(sorry for the OT hijack Abner!)
My well-used M12 Heavy Duck Gun, early 1952 S#1405XXX, has the poorly applied "Simmons Gun Specialties" marking on the ventilated rib.
In Gun Digest 2004 Hollis M. Flint had a nice article on these duck guns and had a few things to say about the ventilated ribs:
"The Winchester proof mark offset to the left of the rib indicates the rib was factory installed"
He quotes George Maddis as stating "Ventilated ribs were rarely offered on [duck] guns." However, "The fact is a few duck guns were provided with these ribs."
And he mentioned is a quote from Ronald Standt "All Winchester special ventilated rib magnum guns examined have sand-blasted receiver tops." (which my gun has...)
And he mentions that "Dave Riffle's book and the various catalogs I have indicate that the Winchester new ventilated rib was an option from about 1954 to 1959." (which seems to agree with Jimmy W)
With my limited information (this one 9 page article) it seems to me I have a M12 with a Winchester intalled Simmons marked rib.
Bryan
