Hello, I ran across an Winchester Model 1912 today that is serial number 45. The gun is a 20 ga. full choke, I would estimate the finish about 10-20% mainly patina and bare metal. There is no rust, corrosion or pitting. The stock and forearm are in good shape with no major damage, just 98 years of handling wear. Mechanically the gun is excellent and the bore bright and shiny. I am curious as to what the value estimate would be be such an early gun? Sorry I don't have any photos. Thanks in advance.


Finally picked up the gun and here are some poor photos, will take better as time permits.

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John. SWCA #1586

I am a lifelong fan of the M12. Presently have four of them, plus a M42. They are, in my opinion, the finest pump shotgun ever made. I can't give you a value, although I suspect it to be pretty good with that low serial number. Keep in mind unless it was altered it is chambered for 2 1/2" shells. The 2 3/4" inch chambering didn't come about until 1925 according to The Winchester Model Twelve book by George Madis.

Even with the low serial #, the condition described would be for me less than a $500 bid.

I have a 12, 16 and a 20, none collector grade, but all wonderful field guns, as they were when they were variously altered (poly-choked, butt-padded by early owners.

Regards,

Tam 3

Along with M70's, the Model 12 is one of my favorites I collect.

Dave Riffle's book is the best reference on the Model 12. . S/N 45 is first year production. If the gun hasn't been altered, meaning the chambers lenghted to 2 3/4" and the ejection port radius enlarged, and no refinishing, the gun is worth more than what you'd first think. The finish wore off those early nickel steel guns pretty quick and that's not a big deal. We don't mind them like that.

If you look close at that gun you'll notice there are no alignment arrows on the mag. tube and the receiver extension. Also the top of the receiver, the sight groove is only matted and not grooved out. The barrel on the early 20 ga. was 25". First year 12 ga. and 16 ga was 1914. The 16 ga barrel was 26" and the 12 ga. 30".

1912, produced S/N from 1 to 5,308, with the first Model 12's arriving at the Winchester warehouse on August 30, 1912. In 1926 Winchester announce the 20 ga chamber will be lenghtened from 2 1/2" to 2 3/4". The 16 ga chamber will be lenghtened from 2 9/6" to 2 3/4". By 1927, all Model 12's were now chambered for 2 3/4" shells.


Heck if that M12 has original finish and original wood with original buttplate, it could be worth, to a collector, upwards of $1500. Any modifications, it drops to around $350.

Regards:
Rod

I love Model 12 shotguns. I have a few, and my favorite quail/dove gun is a 20 ga. with a modified choke 26" barrel.

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195th Session FBINA

I have a 20ga made in 1947 and probably 95%. It is the best shotgun I ever owned.

Pics? The M-12 is a handsome gun, esp. in the higher grades.

I heard that Clarke Gable's shotgun is up for sale. It's the one he gave to Roy Rogers for a few cents. They both were trap shooting and Clarke was so far off his game that day, he asked Roy if he'd like the Model 12 and gave it to Roy. Roy cherished that Pigeon Grade Model 12 til he passed away. . . If I had my pick of any Model 12, that would be the one.

Rod

Gable said something like: "I'd sell this thing for a dime!" Rogers slapped one in his palm and that was that.

Rogers had one made for himself that appears to have more custom metalwork while Gable's had more custom wood work.

Regards,

Tam 3

I have a Model 12 that belonged to my Grandfather . He died when my own Father was just a young boy . You can't begin to guess the value of that gun .

I have a model 12...12 gauge 3in...goose gun...belonged to my Dad...money won't buy it...

I have owned a few but now have just one, actually it's a Browning model 12 grade v in 28ga. I agree they are the finest pump guns made, a true symbol of America's best gunmaking.

I also have my grandfather's old Model 12. It was manufactured in 1949 and passed down to me when my father passed away.

STILL no pics?

Updated with pictures.

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John. SWCA #1586

Are you bringing that pheasant hunting? I am sure it would do a fine job.

looks like it has many years left in it to me! i love mod 12 winchesters!

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WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

About 17 or 18 years ago, I held in my hands ser.# 32 (or, maybe it was 23?) and I didn't buy it. Dumbest move I ever made!
It was the sweetest little 20-ga. pump I've ever handled. Up until then, I thought my Ithaca 37 Featherlite was the best 20-ga. pump there was...up 'til then!

I have my father's 12-ga. mod. 12 that I cherish and, like the majority of you here, would never let it go for anything!

The catagory of "Pump-action shotgun" is the one catagory where there is no need for a poll, or any kind of debate as to what was the best pump-gun ever made...the mod. 12 wins hands down.

Cherish and enjoy that little sweetheart and don't part with her for anything.

I fully understand the passion for the M-12. But the late Don Zutz, as fine a shotgun writer as we've ever had, told me that he preferred the Remington M-31.

Said that it was a smoother working gun, and I guess his fit him better.

I've never handled a M-31, but deeply respect Don's opinion.

The high grade repros of the M-12 are among the finest guns made, for the money. I'd really like one in 20 ga. Some are from Browning, some marked Winchester. I think that all were made by Miroku in Japan. The workmanship is really nice.

T-Star

I acquired this Model 12 Skeet Grade from its original owner who bought it new in 1941. He ordered it with the factory Cutts Compensator option.

The Cutts makes it ugly but for dove hunting or duck hunting over decoys it is so fine.

I have a '49 16, '56 12, and a '32 20. Two with ventilated Polys and one with a Cutts. None collectable. None for sale.

Regards,

Tam 3

I've got a couple of 3" Magnum Duck Guns- one a 1935 vintage with a 32" matted rib barrel, one a 1950's 30" matted rib.

I've got a 16ga 26" modified, 12ga Featherweight, 12ga standard from the 1920's.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

I have in my collection a 3" solid rib 12 ga Duck gun, Two 12ga vent rib pigeon grades, a 20ga Tournament grade with a solid rib, 20ga pigeon with a vent rib and a Super Pigeon 20 ga with B-carved wood and #5 engraving. I guess you could say I like them...but best pump ever...well??? They were the first truly successful repeater in America and every part on the pre-64's was fully machined out of a solid piece of metal but they have a pretty moderate flaw. The bolt is held locked to fire by a pad of metal about 3/8" long and less than 1/4" thick, it is on the end of the action bar. When this little pad wears{and it will wear quick if it is not kept properly lubed} the gun will blow itself open. Next is the safety, if it wears just a little the gun will fire pretty easily when it's on safe. Since the 870 put it out of business and has niether of the above problems it gets my vote for best pump but do I like it more...no way. I'll take a Model 12 any day. I would also wager that more really high grade feather crotch black walnut has been used to make Model 12 buttstocks than for any other purpose ever. Almost forgot, I just bought a 42 vent rib pigeon grade two barrel set skeet gun.

Have 5 Mod 12's. 1 12 ga. 30" full I used for trap, 1 28" with cuts used for Skeet, 1 20 ga 28", 1 28 ga 28", & 1 Mdl 42 .410 28", great little gun.

I have a model 12 16ga that was given to me on my....you guessed it, 16th birthday by my dad. He owns a 12 and a 20ga.

Dad is 80 now, and in poor health and he brought most of his guns to me a while back. Dad instructed me to sell them to pay off some bills. This is the first (and I hope only) time that I will disobey my father. They are not going anywhere.

Winchester model 12 (1946).

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I have handled a couple of the Japanese-made Browning and Winchester Model 12's (and 42's) and they are beautiful guns but the new or near-new guns had stiff or "sticky" actions. Do these guns smooth out and become very smooth and slick with use like the original versions? Thanks.

I inherited a couple. One is sawed off and looks about like the one in the picture above. Reputedly belonged to a whiskey runnin' cousin.
I don't doubt the whiskey part, but I'll bet he left the shotty home when he was out doin' business. He stamped his name in the stock.

This one was my Granddad's and it is virtually new.

I've never shot either one and have no inkling of their monetary value.

Nice looking riot gun!

I WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Go big or stay home

Sorry for the double post, but I thought the old M-12's in 20 bore were 2 5/8".........

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Go big or stay home

I have shot and collect model 12's for over 30 years and have had some rare models but have never seen a factory installed polychoke. Nice looking gun.

I wanted to know whether the words "Washington State Patrol" were put on the receiver at the factory.









I sent an e-mail inquiry to the property division of the Washington State Patrol and got a very nice e-mail back from one of the historians:

"Sir, I am replying to your question about the shotgun with washington state patrol stamped on the receiver. I serve on the WSP Historical Advisory Board, which is charged with preserving the history and heritage of the department. The Winchester model 12 was issued to commissioned officers, such as Troopers, Sergeants and Lieutenants. The WSP had a requirement that all department weapons be marked as belonging to the WSP. These weapons were ordered from the factory with the stamping. The model 12 was replaced by the Remington 870 police model starting around the 1980's. This replacement was phased in as officers retired. The last model 12 was taken out of service in the early 90's. The WSP stopped the requirement to stamp weapons around 2001. I hope this answers your question, if you need further detail please contact me." [emphasis added]

I have since been informed that the letters were done by hand by Master Engraver Nick Kusmit of the Winchester Custom Shop.

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Vote Responsibly

[Quote]; I have since been informed that the letters were done by hand by Master Engraver Nick Kusmit of the Winchester Custom Shop.[Quote]

That is good news . .


Here's a picture of my latest Model 12, a 1949. Bought it a week ago.

I owned one of the Browning 42's. The plain version, bought it new (old stock), I shot it for 3 years about every other week 'at' skeet.
Worked flawlessly and the action operation did get noticably smoother with use.
The Browning/Miroku made Mod 42 pumps have a small redesign from the original Model 42 that elliminates the so called 'slam fire' feature. I'm guessing that they did the same on the M12's they built also but I never owned or worked on one of those.

So you can't just hold the trigger back and empty the tube by pumping the action,,not something normally done on the skeet field anyway.

I sold it only because I was out of shooting for an extended time.
Now it's a Winchester M42 Skeet from 1938 that takes it's place.
But I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Browning M42 if the right gun and price came around again.

I really like pump action shotguns. But of all the different models I've owned, I've never had a Winchester M12 or a Rem 870.
Worked on plenty of them though. Lots of Win12 upgrades over the years. I just like something a bit different.
Favorite in use right now is a Marlin 43Trap.

I only have two Model 12s, a 1963 20 ga. and a seriously bubbasised military riot gun. I bought the 12 ga. in 1954 from Montgomery Wards and got it and a Boyt sheeplined case for $55.00. Somebody had done a real number on it including adding a Weaver choke, beavertail forearm, grip cap, recoil pad and checkered the original cartouched stock. I have hunted with this old war horse all my life and the only time it failed me was a broken fireing pin. I love it.







You can still see the WB cartouche in this picture.

Just the one....for now.



Which started out as this:





When I get to gunsmithing school I'll probably do it over again.

I am seriously impressed with this grand old gun. The guy that did the work will have a hot seat in Hell waiting for him, but what a good job he has done non the less. Any adding your own history to an already historic gun makes we weak in the knees. I greatly admire cared for working guns, and your has that in spades. Dont change a thing, and sit down and think back and write down some of the adventures you two have shared. I think future generations will appreciate that.

Beautiful Model 12. I love the old shotguns.

Dad's Model 12 12ga (30" full) I inherited...


A rusty 20ga I picked up recently...


A bubba-fied 12ga trench (complete with rust and stock carvings) that my young son fell in love with. We'll clean it up...