Near mint Winchester 1911 SL 12 gauge

[USAF_Vet]

Being a fan of reciprocating barrel shotguns, I saw one of the more uncommon ones on the used rack of the LGS, a Winchester 1911 Self Loading 12 gauge, aka the Widowmaker.

I didn't look it over close enough to get a date of manufacture on it, but it looked near factory new. Price tag was a whopping $249.50.

I passed on it, it would be a novelty only, not something I'd seriously shoot. If it's still there after the new year when cash flow starts to ease up again, I may grab it, just to help fill out my collection. I really dig early design self loading shotguns like the Remington model 11 and the Browning A-5. Those are common enough, but this is the first time I've seen the Winchester in the flesh.

 

[Jim K]

If that gun really is as described, buy it. Those are darned uncommon guns and really interesting, and that price is close to a steal. Poor T.C. Johnson, like many other designers of the time, had to work around the very tight patents of John Browning. To make things worse, Browning's auto shotgun (A5) patents had been drawn up by Winchester's own patent attorneys when the company was interested in manufacturing the gun. When Browning and Winchester fell out, Winchester had to try and make a competing gun without using any of JMB's patents, which included a bolt handle, hence the Model 11's knurled barrel.

There were some 82,774 made; that seems like a goodly number, but it was a puny number compared to the A5 or even the later Winchester Model 12 pump gun, and it was not really a very successful or popular gun. Many were fired a few times, found to have punishing recoil, and either junked or retired to the gun cabinet. It seems like you may have one of the latter.

Jim

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'll give it a closer look next time I'm over there. I know they were only made for a dozen years or so, 1911 to the mid '20's. The near 83,000 number is about right, with everything I've read. Unfortunately, until mid January, my gun fund is about bankrupt. If it's still there in six weeks or so, I plan on getting it, just for the novelty of the gun.

 

[Virginian]

After Winchester passed on licensing Browning's design they never had a decent semi auto until the Super X Model 1 all those decades later.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Be that as it may, I'm interested in it more for the novelty aspect than a functional one. Odds are, if I do get it, I'll make it inert (probably just remove the firing pin) and hang it up on the wall. The work around of Browning's design give it some very unique features, as well as a unique appearance.

A nice three gun wall rack with a Browning A5, a Remington Model 11 and a Winchester 1911 would be a nice looking conversation piece.