I'm thinking the bbl/mag assembly has been re-numbered to match the frame. The numbers stamped on the bbl assembly are of a different 'font' than the frame, and are much deeper imprinted.
They would have been done at the same time by the same person in the polishing room.
If my info notes are correct, and they could be entirely wrong, the first year Trench guns (1918) were all solid frame,,no TD. That was the thinking,,to have a sturdy frame set up & avoid problems when using that long bayonet.
1918 the Trench Gun was introduced by Winchester in name in it's catalogs. It was still special order to the public in 1919.
Later it was offered in the TD frame style.
Early guns were commercial blue as were the 97's.
Most were refinished in Parkerizing later on.
This frame shows polishing and refinish with the trigger guard unit and frame not joining up as one .
Parts polished separately,,or the other possibility is that the trigger guard unit was from another gun and the two were mated w/o any attempt to blend the two parts together in polishing.
IIRC,,, 1918 mfg Mod 12 should actually be marked 'Model 1912' on the bbl (if the bbl is the orig or an orig era replacement).
It was either 1919 or 1920 that the pump gun was renamed the' Model 12' and the bbl markings were changed.
Could older bbl's still in the parts bins at the time of change over still be used till they were gone and thus show up with the older marking on a 'newer' gun? I suspect so as the old adage about Winchester never throwing anything away.
I know that at first they didn't use a completely different and new roll die with the 'Model 12' designation on it. They mearly took the old roll die(s) and ground the '19' out. They will read 'Model __ 12'
At the price paid for the shotgun and an SKS, I'd say it was a very good buy. The SKS seems to be priced at about that alone these days alone.
