I have a Winchester model 12 made in 1931. I bought it used and it has a Cutts compensator which I would like to remove. The barrel is marked with a full choke designation, so I believe this was an aftermarket installation. There is a small screw on the underside of the expansion chamber, but when I remove it the chamber does not seem to want to unscrew. Were these devices permanently installed and not meant to ever come off ? I know nothing about a Cutts, and any background would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Cutts removal
- Thread starter westfi1
- Start date
jaguarxk120
New member
The small screw holds the expansion chamber in place (screwed on very tightly). The adapter is silver soldered/brased in place on the barrel. The barrel may have been turned in a lathe for a short distance to provide a parallel section for the adapter to seat on.
To remove the expansion chamber the barrel will have to be held tightly and the chamber screwed off (very fine threads). to hold the barrel drill a hole through a block of wood about 4-5 inches long about the same size as the barrel at the Cutts compensator. Split the block in two, put the barrel in the two halves and tighten in a vise to hold the barrel. This way the barrel is held very evenly for about four inches. then the expansion chamber can be turned off using a strap wrench. Remember the hole in the wood block (pine is good) has to match the barrel diameter or you may crush the barrel.
By the way the cutts is a excellant muzzle brake and choke. Different tubes were made running from full to open bore. This was long before the internal choke tubes. It does give the gun a retro look as the Cutts were very popular during the 50's-60's. Also note that the guy shooting next to you won't care for the cutts as they are very loud.
To remove the expansion chamber the barrel will have to be held tightly and the chamber screwed off (very fine threads). to hold the barrel drill a hole through a block of wood about 4-5 inches long about the same size as the barrel at the Cutts compensator. Split the block in two, put the barrel in the two halves and tighten in a vise to hold the barrel. This way the barrel is held very evenly for about four inches. then the expansion chamber can be turned off using a strap wrench. Remember the hole in the wood block (pine is good) has to match the barrel diameter or you may crush the barrel.
By the way the cutts is a excellant muzzle brake and choke. Different tubes were made running from full to open bore. This was long before the internal choke tubes. It does give the gun a retro look as the Cutts were very popular during the 50's-60's. Also note that the guy shooting next to you won't care for the cutts as they are very loud.
Last edited:
Jim Watson
New member
The Cutts was one of the first interchangeable choke devices, and a recoil compensator besides. A great "loudener" for bystanders, too.
Bear in mind that the full choke muzzle of the barrel is long gone in the installation of the Cutts. Take it off and you have a cylinder bore.
Bear in mind that the full choke muzzle of the barrel is long gone in the installation of the Cutts. Take it off and you have a cylinder bore.
To install a Cutts Compensator, the barrel is shortened and the base unit soldered on the end, so it's pretty much a permanent installation. IMHO, only a damaged barrel could justify its removal for installation on another barrel.
The Cutts served three purposes: It acted as a muzzle brake to reduce recoil and muzzle rise (the Cutts is seen on many Thompson sub-machine guns); it controlled the shot pattern by reducing pellet deformation in the choke transition area (this was in the pre-plastic shot cup days), and it allowed screw-in choke changes. However, with the Cutts it was actually a "screw-over" configuration. It avoided the thin wall work required for machining modern screw-in choke tubes.
The Cutts is also responsible for the reputation of muzzle brakes being too noisy. It's not that they are any noisier, they just redirect the sound. So, if you shoot with a Cutts you may not be extra popular in a crowded duck blind or a shoulder-to-shoulder buddy shoot.
In its day, the Cutts and the Simmons rib were very popular on Model-12. The Cutts was also seen on many Browning Auto-5s / Remington 11s. Westfi1, if you don't want the Cutts on your Model-12, don't remove it, get a new barrel.
[SIZE=-2]photo: United States Guns & Arms Collectors[/SIZE]
The Cutts served three purposes: It acted as a muzzle brake to reduce recoil and muzzle rise (the Cutts is seen on many Thompson sub-machine guns); it controlled the shot pattern by reducing pellet deformation in the choke transition area (this was in the pre-plastic shot cup days), and it allowed screw-in choke changes. However, with the Cutts it was actually a "screw-over" configuration. It avoided the thin wall work required for machining modern screw-in choke tubes.
The Cutts is also responsible for the reputation of muzzle brakes being too noisy. It's not that they are any noisier, they just redirect the sound. So, if you shoot with a Cutts you may not be extra popular in a crowded duck blind or a shoulder-to-shoulder buddy shoot.
In its day, the Cutts and the Simmons rib were very popular on Model-12. The Cutts was also seen on many Browning Auto-5s / Remington 11s. Westfi1, if you don't want the Cutts on your Model-12, don't remove it, get a new barrel.
[SIZE=-2]photo: United States Guns & Arms Collectors[/SIZE]