Winchester Model 12 Disassembly - Help!

[TrapperReady]

What is the proper way to remove the fore-end on a Winchester Model 12? I've finally decided to repair a small crack on mine, and realized that I've not removed that part before.

I've currently got the barrel and fore-end seperated from the receiver, and don't want to just mess around without having at least somewhat of an idea.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mod12]

oooooooh.

oh tr. you've got problems. tried to take mine off years ago and wound up taking it to a gunsmith.charged me 20.00 for off and on. it comes off from the action end of the magazine i believe. the problem is the action bar and ring that's on the rear of the forearm. havn't any idea what it would cost now. mine was made in 1952 and i havn't taken the front end off more than 3 or 4 times. periodically flush it with pb blaster and then blow it out with compressed air. don't know what it would cost now. i had a friend who cross threaded the barrel and receiver and it really spooked me. cost him almost the price of a new gun to have winchester fix it.i value mine too much to attempt to work on it myself. i'm not very handy that way. the hanger at front of the magazine tube has to be removed and repositioning is critical to functioning of action. good luck!

 

[TrapperReady]

Crud. That's what I was afraid of. I'm usually pretty good with firearms, and this looked not at all straightforward.

If it looks like too much of a problem, I think I can just use a toothpick to work some glue down into the crack. However, I'll have to manually hold it closed for the hour or so until it starts setting, since there's no good way to clamp it without removing the fore-end.

 

[mod12]

mod 12

have you tried "gorilla glue"? it sets very quickly and is really strong.

 

[TrapperReady]

Gorilla Glue is what I'm using. I found out about it when fixing the handguard on a 1903A3 I got from the CMP.

Actually, the Model 12 fore-end repair is underway right now. I used a small, flat toothpick to work some glue into the crack, and then used a piece of a chopstick as a wedge between the fore-end and the barrel to hold some pressure.

In another few hours, it should be finished.

BTW, this was just a small cosmetic crack, about 1" long and pretty thin in the upper portion of the fore-end. It's been there as long as I can remember (at least 30+ years). However, I reinforced a previous repair on my "new" Browning A-5 yesterday and decided to finally take care of this one as well.

Hmmm... I wonder what else needs gluing around the house?

 

[mod12]

mod 12

aha! a chinese knockoff.

is yours a beavertail? mine is a coontail. whacks a few ounces off. just enough to get a grip on.

 

[TrapperReady]

mod12 - Either I'm being unusually dense today, or you're making some references that I just don't get.

Could you clarify your previous post just a bit?

Thanks!

BTW, my Model 12 is certainly not Chinese, and it has the round-profile "corncob" style fore-end. It's a 1922-vintage 12ga (full-choke 28" barrel) that's in extremely good condition (especially the bluing).

 

[mod12]

mod 12

that chopstick is surely a chinese idea!

 

[mod12]

mod 12

mine's a 16 ga. a 17th birthday gift from my mom and dad in 1952. originally 28" mod. had a gunsmith cut it back to 24" around 1959 so it's a true cyl bore. deadly out to about 20 yds.grouse and quail don't stand a chance. just a tad over 6 lbs. had it refurbished just before winchester reorganized. wife gave me a dbl. bbl. skb ithaca sxs in 1970 as a wedding gift so the 12 hangs on the wall. really afraid neither will be getting much use now, 2 hip replacements ,a triple bypass, an aortal/femoral bypass and a mini stroke that wrecked my sense of balance has curtailed my grouse forays. still talk a hell of a hunt. my boys enjoy the occasional outing but ruffed grouse were a mania with me. truly believe that two days a week, five months a year in the hills of southern and eastern ohio chasing those things is the reason im walking on steel. the balance problem is really the worst tho. that really put the kibosh on things. sounds as if you have a nice collection of guns. i have an nra 1911 that i paid 25.00 for in around 1956 or 57. hope your repair works out.

 

[BigG]

Beavertail v. Coontail: This gun has a coontail (corncob) forend, a beavertail is thicker and wider.

 

[TrapperReady]

Thanks for the pic BigG. Visuals always help.

mod12 - I'm sorry that you aren't able to get out much, but I'm sure you've got a lot of treasured memories. I've known a number of folks who have wound up with the ailments, but not much to look back on. IMO, that's the really sad part.

As far as my Model 12 goes, it's on its third generation within the family. It seems to go in 30-35 year cycles, so I figure I'm good with it for another 20 or so, then I'll give it to one of my boys. That's actually one reason I purchased the A5 recently. At some point, one of them will get the Model 12 and I wanted the other son to also get a classic field gun.

With respect to the repair, it's quite good. There is a barely visible hairline, but you wouldn't notice it unless you were looking for it. I used to be concerned that it would split out the rest of the way and I'd lose the splinter. No worries now.

Thanks again!