I just brought home another one. This one is a little unusual. First of all, it is in REALLY good condition. Did I mention REALLY good!? (No, that's NOT the unusual part.) 12 gauge, 28", solid rib, full choke. According to Art's and the bible's numbers, it is a 1948. Here is what's unusual, or should I say "interesting"----according to the bible, in 46/47 when the lightweight variation was introduced they did not mark the receiver "Light Twelve". That allegedly didn't start until 1948/49. The one I just got is certainly a lightweight model, having all the lightweight features, but is not stamped as such, which the way I read it, probably should have been by then. Maybe a transitional model?
They started marking Sweet Sixteens and Light Twelves as such sometime in 1948, possibly towards the end of the year. I have an unmarked 1948 Sweet Sixteen. Your unmarked Light Twelve should have a gold trigger and safety. That’s how they were originally identified. I had a ‘46, but I sold it to a friend because it had a recoil pad. Haven’t seen another.
A change that came about early in 1948 was the replacement of the words TRADE MARK with a circled R. I’ll bet your gun has that.
1946 was the first year for the Light Twelve. Also the first year that imports resumed after the war.
