In 1919- same exact gun as the M12. Madis in his great book on The Perfect Repeater mentions "running changes" for the M12- in this case, they removed the 19 roll stamps from the die, leaving M and 12-- why? Whom can say. Shortly afterwards, all the many patent numbers and dates were removed from the breech side of the barrel, that being the same side as the ejection port on the receiver.
Sure is a lot of "Horse puckey" spread around by dealers en re: M12's-- saw an early (4 digit sn.) M1912 20 gauge, 25" barrel, reblued, re-stocked with Bishop target grade wood, black plastic BP, Simmonds rib, with Cutts comp. and a spreader tube (2&1/2" chamber-- He's asking $2500 for this "dis=aster", and I heard him state loud and clear to a potential buyer-- "And this is one of the post-1964 mfg. M12's- a scarce gun indeed.
