doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Model 23 32" bbls

If all any manufacturer actually made was cataloged, this game wouldn't be nearly as exciting.
Mike

Not pertinent to this gun, but about catalogs -- there were at least two different M-23 configurations made for the European market not shown in their U.S. catalogs. Don had one in 20 ga. and I have one quite a bit different in 12 ga. Over the years I've seen a few others like Don's offered by Dawson's, only one other like mine.

Jay

I have handled M23's made for the European market that had double triggers! I should have bought one of those...

We don't know if the pictures show the 25-1/2" barrels, the 32" barrels, or both.

Apologies for digressing from topic with more on European market 23s, but thought some looking at a 23 thread might be interested in seeing a 12 ga. European gun. This one has a high-combed stock with 1/4" cast off and a sizable rectangular cavity. Pics show checkered rosewood buttplate that's rounded at the heel, ebony forend wedge tip, relatively slender grip with long black tang, black toplever and safety, and a different "engraving" pattern with more coverage. Barrels are 28", marked "Pigeon Grade", 70mm chambers, thinner at the muzzles than U.S. guns, with fixed IC/M chokes, and a solid low-set swamped rib engraved "WINCHESTER FIREARMS". It's a bit under 6-3/4 lbs. Very different from the domestic 23s. No double triggers, but I like it a lot, except the thin comb bites me if I screw up and cheek it too hard -- and I do.

Jay

Interesting . . . 32" barrels on a Pigeon Grade Lightweight. One would think they'd make more sense on something like a Heavy Duck.

Though Winchester called the straight grip guns "Lightweight", all I've seen differ from the standard 23s only in grip style. I had a so-called LWT 20 ga. that weighed more than 7 lbs. Both standard and LWT U.S. market 23s have 3" chambers. I've never handled a Heavy Duck, and no longer have any old Winchester catalogs around. Anyone know if the Heavy Duck was listed as a heavier gun -- other than a couple ounces for the longer barrels?

Jay

I had a 12 gauge Heavy Duck which weighed 8 lbs.

Thanks Mark -- that's definitely more than a little heavier than the standard 12 ga.

Also seems balance would be an interesting issue on a gun with 2 sets of barrels, 6 1/2" difference between them.