Model 12s can break the firing pin and leave the broken point projecting from the bolt, which will cause the gun to fire before lockup is complete, with spectacular results. Does it happen a lot? No, but, more often than it does on any other shucker.
Gospel truth, lad.
Hard to Imagine anything like that could happen on "The Perfect Repeater".
Miller,
One of these days, I'm going to get off my ass and go to my friend Dan's house to take photos of his Grandfather's model 12, that suffered that exact failure way back when, mid 1930s or so, I'm guessing. The gun was repaired by his Grandfather after some parts were mail ordered for it, but, still bears the scars from pellets in the forward receiver and chamber area. Although Grandfather and his hunting partner have long ago met their reward, it was reported that the kaboom was mostly in the duck boat, neither man heard much of anything for a few days, and the round that caused the damage did not contribute to the depression era pile of ducks. In my conversations with both men in the past, that last fact was noted to me several times, leading me to believe economic times were especially tough around Vergas, MN. circa 1935 or so, when and where the incident took place.
One problem I have to prepare myself for when I go to visit Dan is the inevitable fine meal prepared by his cute native Cambodian wife, and all the beer that will be poured down my gullet.This research and documentation is a killer.
Oh, and I should also mention that Dan inherited both of his Grandfather's model 12s, a 12 gauge nickel steel gun, and a 3" heavy duck, but, he purchased for his own use a King's Ferry model 37 with decent wood, 28" barrel, and choke tubes. He has heard the above story more times than me.
I'm not aware of model 37s, or, any other US pumps that have a problem similar to the failure to lock in battery at discharge that rarely happens on model 12 WInchesters.
Best,
Ted
