date my Winchester 1911 SL -Please!

[TFS2403]

Hi I just came into ownership of a Winchester 1911 SL shotgun. Serial # 12922 . It is in good condition with a fair amount of blue still visible and the wood is good. It still appears to function but I have not shot it yet.

Can anyone advise me the manufacture date of this shotgun and any other historical value or significance. I heard someone say Winchester only made about 25,000 of them before discontinuing the model.


Thanks
Robb
[email protected]

 

[Dave McCracken]

Nicknamed "The Widow Maker" in an era of wide gun use, the 1911 was not made for long. Winchester,according to legend, would trade them for a new Model 12 just to get them back.

Browning and Remington autos were eating Winchester's lunch for decades. Winchester didn't offer an auto again until the 70s for so with the X1.

I've seen a few shot. It's a good pointer. The design flaw where one has to grasp the barrel to cycle the action is the weakest link.

IMO, it's more curiousa than shooter.

HTH....

 

[rcmodel]

+1

John Browning & Remington held the patent rights to a bolt handle on the then new semi-auto shotgun at the time.

That was Winchesters feeble attempt to get around the patent and offer a semi-auto for sale to compete with the Remington Model 11, which later became the Browning A-5.
The most successful semi-auto shotgun in total sales so far made.

Needless to say, it was not only a poor seller against the much better designed Remington, but also dangerous!

rc

 

[TFS2403]

ok, Thanks for the information, is there a decent written source of information on this shotgun?
Thanks

 

[xx7grant7x]

picture of said shotgun just cause i wanted to know what it was and thought someone else might too

 

[ABEHE3EP]

I have one with S/N 112XX that is dated 1912. I have seen other posts that put S/N 13XXX in 1912 as well. That tells me yours is of that same vintage.

My gun is a great shooter with low brass loads. The buffers on these guns wear out and it would probably be easier on the shoulder of they were replaced. Numrich Gun Parts (e-gun parts) has some parts for this gun.

Also check this book for exploded view and disassembly instructions: Firearms Disassembly with Exploded Views by Karns & Traister