General Curtis E. LeMay's Winchester Model 40 12 GA 24" Competition Shotgun, Beautifully engraved Our Assessment: In the 1930s the semi-automatic shotgun was a proven design with other brands having solid financial success selling them. Winchester was inspired and got to work on their Model 40, their second semi-automatic shotgun. The Browning patents had expired and Winchester was free to use a charging handle on their shotguns. With high hopes, Winchester released the gun in 1940. Many of the design elements of the Model 1911SL were incorporated into this design, and because of this, the Model 40 suffers many of the same shortcomings. By 1941, Winchester stopped production of the design due to the numerous design flaws and sent out a recall. Some customers took advantage of this, but instead of receiving a new Model 40, they were reportedly given Model 12s along with letters asking that the Model 40 be completely forgotten. The brief production run resulted in approximately 12,000 units, many of which were turned in to Winchester and subsequently destroyed. This one has lived quite a life. It was purchased by General Curtis e. LeMay in 1940. When he was selected to command the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, he brought the gun with him to Wiesbaden Germany. While in Wiesbaden, General LeMay and other officers formed the Wiesbaden Gun Club and Gun Shop. At the Club, a defector from the Soviet zone by the name of H. Müller was employed as an engraver. Mr. Müller took the rather pedestrian Model 40 to new heights and engraved full coverage game scenes on the receiver. The left side of the receiver is adorned with game birds and hunting dogs in a wooded area with rolling hills in the background. The bottom-left corner of the left side of the receiver is engraved with a broken fence post that bears the artist's signature "H.Müller". The right side of the receiver is similarly marked with hunting scenes depicting two hunters and waterfowl. The bottom of the receiver is engraved with a crest bearing the distinguished Generals initials "CeL". The stocks were upgraded to checkered French walnut by the club and a rib was also added. General LeMay seems to have had better luck with this design than most, it was his skeet gun and he shot numerous matches with it. It was with him at the 1955 Nebraska State Skeet Championship. At this Championship, the rib blew off and was subsequently replaced with the Simmons Specialties rib that it currently wears. General Curtis e. LeMay's service includes duties as commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command, from October 1948 to July 1957 and Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, from July 1961 to January 1965. He was a pioneer in formations and bombing techniques that were used throughout the European theater and were later used by the B-29 Super Fortress in the Pacific. His service earned him numerous awards and decorations, not just from his own government, but countries all around the world.
Make: Winchester
Model: Model 40
Serial Number: 1195
Year of Manufacture: 1940
Caliber: 12 Ga.
Action Type: Semi-Auto Shotgun
Barrel Length: 20" Vent Rib, 24" to Lyman Cutts Compensator
Choke: Lyman Cutts Compensator, Improved Cylinder
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a white bead iwith a smaller white mid-rib bead.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The upgraded stocks are two-piece checkered French walnut with a capped pistol grip, straight comb, and checkered black hard rubber buttplate. There are some tiny hairline cracks at the tangs, so small they are hardly noticeable. There are some draglines and compressions. There are a few dings in the wood and scratches from range use. The checkering is mostly sharp. The LOP measures 14" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some scattered light wear from normal use. The stocks are in Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. In the opinion of this writer, this bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 94% of its metal finish. There is some finish wear on the edges. There are some scattered areas of thinning and minor plumish discoloration to the bluing. The in the white components display freckles of discoloration from previous oxidation. There are light handling marks. There is operational wear. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Fine condition as customized.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a framed photograph of General LeMay and a letter regarding this particular shotgun, also signed by the General.
CA LEGAL: C&R: YES, CA PPT: NO
SHOTGUNS