Winchester Model 12

[TNT]

Gunshop has a Winchester Model 12 in 12ga. The stock has the usual dings and has the normal wear for it's age. The barrel has a poly choke on it and both the barrel and reciever have a grey patina color to them. Everything seems to be functional and the bolt locks up tight. The price is $150.00 and I figure the barrel could be cut down with a bead sight installed if I don't care for the poly choke.

I want to know if it's worth the $150 or should I pass on it?

 

[TrapperReady]

That's about the cheapest I've seen a Model 12 for quite a while. Even the true beaters go for upwards of $200 around here. I like Model 12s above all other pumps (probably combined), and would be very likely to get one as you described.

 

[Little Loudmouth]

Almost any Model 12 for $150 sounds like a good deal to me.
The last one I looked at was a 20 gauge with not much bluing and the price was $389.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Buy it!!

This is a great price on a classic.

What a project gun....

 

[TNT]

Thanks guys for the extra push. If I get off work early I'll go and buy it this week or it's going to have to wait until Saturday.

PS
Thanks for fixing my mistake Dave M.

 

[Fred Fuller]

TNT,

YOU might wait, but if there is much traffic at all in that store, the Model 12 _won't_ wait. It'll have a new home most ricky tick at that price, I think...

lpl/nc

 

[TNT]

Well I went and looked at the Model 12 again and decided on the one next to it. The one I bought didn't have the ugly poly choke on the end of it and overall it's in better shape. I ran a search on the serial number and my "new" model 12 was born in 1913. The barrel is just under 29" long and reads "Nickel Steel-Winchester-Mod.1912-12GA and has a full choke. So far I have only seen two serial numbers on the shotgun and they both match. The barrel and reciever have the same coloring and the wood stock is in pretty good shape. I got this one for $225 and feel pretty good about it. Now I just have to find some disasembly instructions to give it a good inspection and cleaning.

 

[Ropeburn]

Any idea on he chamber length on that? I have one just like it and am trying to find out more about it.

Thanks!!

 

[Dave McCracken]

Post a query down on Harley Nolden's forum,TNT. He'll probably E you a set of takedown instructions.

A 1912 made in 1913 is almost certainly Cursed by The Demon of Short Chambers. A smith can tell.Of course,the chamber may have already been lengthened in the intervening 90 years. But get it checked, please.

That aside, a 12 or 1912 is built to last forever. A little PM and TLC will have that one working for generations.

 

[frenchwrench]

American Rifleman had a good dissassembly artical on the model 12 last year.Sept or Oct.Good luck,I still shoot my Grandfathers 12,1923.

 

[TNT]

Dave M, I can have the slide back and drop a 2.75" round into the chamber without any problems, slides right in. If you think I should still get it checked out I will take it to the smith for a quick check to be safe.

Ropeburn, I am going to do some searches and see what I can find out. All I know right now is the date of manufacture.

Frenchwrench, I think I might still have that issue laying around somewhere but it might take an hour just to find it in the piles of gun magazines.

 

[Fred Fuller]

TNT,

I'm not Dave but just in case you decide to bust a cap before he answers- Don't do it 'till you DO get that chamber measured. Take a ruler to your unfired 2 3/4" shell. How long is it??

THe Winchester AA 20 ga. I just measured is a bit over 2 1/4" long, unfired. It's the FIRED length that might be a problem, depending on the actual present chamber in your gun. If you DO have a short chamber and fire a 2 3/4" shell, some of that case mouth is going to protrude into the bore and reduce its diameter at the point it is under the most pressure from the departing shot charge.

Enough to cause problems? Well, maybe so, maybe not. But you are rolling the dice to shoot it until you know, IMHO, and I wouldn't do it.

YMMV, of course. Sounds like you have a classic, no matter what- but do be careful in this detail, please.

lpl/nc

 

[Dave McCracken]

Lee just spake Gospel.

While I've met folks that have sworn they've run zillions of regular shells through short chambers without a hitch, those who have had glitches are no longer alive to offer a rebuttal.

PLEASE get this checked first.

 

[mondocomputerman]

That's a pretty good price, I would get it. All of the ones at the local Cabellas are over $200, and are rusting a bit from all the people handling them. I had to figure out how to disassemble it by trial and error about a month ago. I found it Fascinating how the mechanism works.

 

[TNT]

I went back and picked up the other Winchester model 12 today for $150. I checked the serial number on this one and it was made in 1934 and has a the poly choke on it. It's also missing one screw and doesn't have the original buttplate but I am sure I will find the parts at Numrich. The barrel on this one is marked "Winchester Proof Steel Model 12 12ga" and both serial numbers match. It should be a pretty slick shotgun after a good cleaning.

 

[MrMurphy]

Don't trim the barrel. If it's a Model 12 made in 1913, it's got serious collector value. Before the 870, the Model 12 was the most popular pump gun of all time, and that's a very low number gun!