thorin6
04-07-2017, 07:09
Trying to figure out what was done here. I believe this heat shield is the correct 4-row one for the Winchester Model 12 and is marked with a W on the left side. It is on a M12 (Sn #1015227 with matching barrel and receiver) that was sold as surplus to the Oklahoma Prison System, and then sold from the Prison to the dealer that I got it from. According to him it has not been messed with since he got it from the Prison System. The stock is a Bishop (sling swivel slot has been filled in), the barrel and receive have been refinished, and the pump wood replaced (kept the original tube).
It appears the bayonet lug has been modified to accept an M5 bayonet. The stud for the barrel ring has been removed, the bayonet lug for the M1917 bayonet removed, and a new lug machined to fit the M5 bayonet. No other US bayonet will fit, and the removal of the stud for the barrel ring has left a hole that fits the stud on the M5 bayonet that would go into the gas plus on the M1 Garand.
The problem with this conversion is when the heat shield is on the shotgun, the magazine tube prevents the M5 from fitting on the lug unless the M5 is modified as well. So the question is who did this. Was this done by the arsenal when the Bishop stock was added and before it was sold as surplus? Was this done by the Prison system because they also picked up M5 bayonets as surplus? Or was it done in a garage or by a gunsmith after it left the Prison (not according to the dealer I bought it from, but you know how that goes).
Appreciate any thoughts.
It appears the bayonet lug has been modified to accept an M5 bayonet. The stud for the barrel ring has been removed, the bayonet lug for the M1917 bayonet removed, and a new lug machined to fit the M5 bayonet. No other US bayonet will fit, and the removal of the stud for the barrel ring has left a hole that fits the stud on the M5 bayonet that would go into the gas plus on the M1 Garand.
The problem with this conversion is when the heat shield is on the shotgun, the magazine tube prevents the M5 from fitting on the lug unless the M5 is modified as well. So the question is who did this. Was this done by the arsenal when the Bishop stock was added and before it was sold as surplus? Was this done by the Prison system because they also picked up M5 bayonets as surplus? Or was it done in a garage or by a gunsmith after it left the Prison (not according to the dealer I bought it from, but you know how that goes).
Appreciate any thoughts.