I am starting to expand from my smith Wesson revolvers. Have a chance to buy a Winchester model 12 in excellent shape. Shotgun could be sold as new. No scratches on it at all, bluing is excellent and it's all original. The guy is firm at 725.00. Not really looking for a 12 but since it's so nice it has my interest. Good deal? Great deal? Any help would be great

Does it have a 2&3/4" chamber?

Yes it does

I am not a hunter or big shotgun riffle shooter. Looking at it more as a investment down the road. I am a smith revolvers guy

I think the Model 12 market is shrinking. I would pass as an investment.

But if you wanted a great 16 gauge pump gun for hunting, it's a great choice.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

My opinion is that it's an okay deal. I think. If it's in the condition you describe. You don't mention barrel length or how it's choked, though...factors that could be important. You also don't mention whether it's a field grade or a higher grade gun.

So it's actually kinda hard to say "good deal" or not.

Thing is, 16-gauge is regaining some popularity. I'm seeing more 16-gauge ammo on the shelves of LGSs around here, and it seems to sell pretty fast.

I would say at that price, it is not the best of deals. I only hunt with 16ga shotguns , going on going on 49 years now. I only own 16ga shotguns, no others. That price seems very high. I doubt you would break even in 10 year should you buy it at that price

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A Snider squibbed n the Jungle

I thought the price is high but did not know how much of a premium there is on shotguns when they are in like new condition for being that old

Kind of high for a model 12. Saw a model 12, 16 ga the other day for $375, nice shape.

You are seeing more 12's around at lower prices than in previous years.

It's a 28 inch mod choke field gun

A 16 gauge Model 12 is high on my list of favorites.

In my uneducated opinion the price seems high for a field gun.

Seems a bit much to me!

Price is high for a Field Grade Mod. 12 in my opinion / location.
For me it would not be an 'investment' piece at that price unless you are thinking long term.

Thanks for all the info. I think to much but it looks so nice

Still a very nice gun. A lot better than that [Improved] model 1200 Winchester came out with int the 60s. LOL

I bought a field grade, 28" barrel, 16 gauge last year for $218.00 OTD. Excellent condition, about 90% bluing.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

You guys are buying pre 64 model 12 shotguns for 200 to 400. 00??????

nobody pays more than 250 bucks for a gun on this forum except me.

You speak volumes. I keep an eye on model 12 prices. This model gun has always held my interest and have owned quite a few over the decades. 16 gauge's have can garnered quite the following in the last 20 years. The price the man is asking is about what guns in this gauge and condition are going for on the internet. There is a post war at the local gun shop in 16 gauge and they are asking $799 for it. It will be interesting to see how soon it sells at that price. Being a pre war adds a $100 for most collectors. Decent 90% 12 gauge model 12's are still in the $375-$450 range. Twenty gauges are closing in on a grand in the described condition.

I don't know where you are, but around here that's at least twice what a good Model 12 can be had for. I know that sounds crazy for such a quality classic, but it's true. Add a bit of a premium for 16 ga., but even at that the last one I saw was marked at $390.

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Pisgah

everybody that sees these model 12 at such a low price.
1. are the pre 1964
2 are they pre war
3 proff steel
4. are they in new conditioin

if yes to all these I would buy everyone I could for under 400.00 like you are telling me

I seem to only find such guns on the internet and at stores for double that. How sweet it would be if I could find a pre war 16 for $400 in near mint condition. I guess I am paying the price for living where I do.

At these prices maybe I should sell my 1914 first year 16ga in near new condition. I had no idea prices were going up as they are.

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A Snider squibbed n the Jungle

As a pre=War Field grade M12 16ga orig configuration:

If it is truly 'new' condition as in NIB condition (could be sold for new), then the price is about right,,perhaps a bit low to the purist collector w/$$ looking to fill a spot in a collection IMO.
Remember, New means just that, absolutely no marks, wear, or use beyond factory test and proofing.
(That said,,I don't see a gun like that greatly increasing in value as time goes on. More of one that keeps pace with inflation perhaps,,JMO of course)

As an Excellent condition gun,,it's a priced a bit too high I think.
Value drops very quickly especially on Field grades as % of finish loss starts to stack up, both metal and wood.

..If buying for investment, you have to really be aware of the fine points of a pre-war vs post war M12 so as not to get stuck with a later stock, forend or replacement small part even though they may be Winchester parts.

Guns with handling and use wear, bluing loss. added recoil pads or broken orig butt plates, plain bbls, ect are shooters and routinely sell for $250-$400 ,,especially 12ga field postwar guns.
But many pre-war guns can be found in that price range too as people are unaware of the age of their Model 12.
High Grades are often after market upgraded guns, not factory embellished high grade guns.

There is an entire industry out there in upgrading M12 and M42's to high grade factory engraving patterns, wood and checkering, vent and solid ribs and on and on.
Many are peddeled as 'Factory Original' complete with a fake Winchester box and dated orig paperwork.
You have to really know what you're looking at.

Post '64 guns are known as Y Series guns (Y prefix ser#) They were Custom shop special order guns and will generally be something more than a Field Grade. They used some stamped parts and a couple castings. They have less of a following & interest among collectors as with any other post 64 Winchester but they are gaining some ground. They're Winchesters afterall!.

I like Model 12 Winchesters, especially the pre 1926 models.

As others have said the prices on Model 12s are and have been going down in the last 7 to 10 years.

If you like the gun and can afford it, buy it, just imagine what a newly made gun of that quality would cost today.

I wouldn't suggest buying it at that price to make money on, assuming it is a field grade gun.

Thank you very much for the info