Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Winchester model 12 heavy duck gun stamp

I have had some arguments on what constitutes a Model 12 Heavy Duck Gun. I have been told that for it to be a Heavy Duck Gun, it must be stamped as such. My stance is: if it is a 3" chamber and stamped for 3" super X & super speed, it a also a heavy duck gun. Is this correct, and how were these guns stamped over their lifetime? Any clarification?

I think you are correct, maybe a mod 12 guru will see the post and pipe in. All the ones I have handled were 30" full choke and marked as you said , all had 3" chamber

I have not seen a Model 12 marked Heavy Duck such as Skeet, Trap, Pigeon grade guns were marked. The only designation I am aware of is the 3" Super Speed Super X marking on the barrel.

Kenny, I have researched this model for awhile now, @25 years, and can say your friend seems uninformed. I have never seen Winchester ever call their 3" guns HEAVY DUCK. When first produced Winchester did call them their LONG RANGE DUCK GUNS. Because Winchester used a heavier barrel that was built thicker, the gun weighed 1 pound 4 ounces more than a model 12 in 12 gauge with equal length barrels. Because it was heavier than normal and because its main use was for duck hunting it became known as a HEAVY DUCK gun. Earliest barrels were stamped, 2 3/4" and 3" chambered. Later they were stamped 3" SUPER SPEED SUPER X. Did Winchester ever refer to their guns as heavy duck? I have never seen any. Doesn't mean they didn't, but if they did I never saw it. I have owned a few over the years and inspected maybe 75 over the years and have never seen one stamped HEAVY DUCK.

Thanks for the information confirming my view. But I am aware of 2 of these guns which are stamped Heavy Duck. I will endeavor to track them down and get pictures for posting. Thanks

If you would get some photos it would help us researcher.

If you would get some photos it would help us researcher.

Thanks for your info, You are correct My friends guns are not stamped Heavy Duck either. super speed super x 3"

As was mine, which I just this week traded for a pre WW ll 32 Special model 1894 with ammo and tang peep sight. I am anxious to work out that 32 Special! I already was a bit heavy on shotguns in the safe, and I have a bad lust for older lever actions so this trade made sense for me purely based upon what I like and want, cash or blue book values be damned

I am pretty sure they were only nicknamed the Heavy Duck Gun and never stamped that way. I do remember that in the 1970's, if you were a goose hunter, this shotgun was THE gun to have if you could get one.

here is mine, I think its a 1958 if I remember correctly. It was always one of those bucket list guns. Always found em where they were altered by having different recoil pads or aftermarket ribs and poly chokes. This one is correct. Factory red pad, shorter LOP, Lead in stock, 30" full choke