I recently picked up a one owner 1948 Win M12 !6 gauge out of layaway and thought that I would do a comparison in pictures with my 1947 Ithaca M37 16 Gauge. I'm a 16 Gauge junky and have several, the Ithaca was my prize when I found it. The M12 is my only Winchester shotgun, It's in my safe only because it's a 16 and it was in really nice condition. Also, I'm no photographer so forgive the pics, I can't do these two justice.

Beautiful examples of both and interesting side by side comparison.

Two great old shotguns is a great gauge.

Now you need to add a Remington Model 31 and make it a trio !

I've been looking, they're hard to come by. Both of these came from the same lgs, maybe a Remington will show up some day in the same condition.

Very nice indeed and thanks for sharing. Sure is a difference in these older models and what is often produced today. Love those old forged models. Sure wish I would have made an offer on a Winchester model 50 a friend had years back.

Great shotguns ! I especially like the 1947 Ithaca 37 ( my birth year)

__________________
John

Nice guns. Have had both in the past.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

A pair of fine pump shotguns. They make the pumps on market
now look like chalking guns. They are making the Ithaca again
here in Ohio. They are nice guns but come with "nice" price tag.
The good news is that nice shooters in the old classics pumps
can be had reasonable. They are the one area where prices are
coming down. The 97 Win is the exception, Cowboy game has
elevated price on them. A decent 97 will bring more than a m12
in same condition.

Both very nice. But for us southpaws, the Ithaca has a slight safety advantage with its bottom ejection.

Beautiful guns! Thanks for sharing. When I grew up we never had a 12 gauge in the house. We had one single shot .410 and the rest were all 16's. Not sure why my dad preferred them but its all he would shoot.

Dan

I have been racking my brain to come up with a quote describing the difference between hand built guns built buy master craftsmen of walnut and steel and the newer mass produced guns of today. You sir have nailed it. Elegantly said.

You've got two of the best Pumps ever made. The Remington 870 is also part of that club. I am not a big Pump gun fan but those are must haves !

Rem 870 is not part of that club, it was the first successful pump
made of stamped parts, probably #1 seller in pumps. It may be
the King of chalking guns but nowhere near the quality of the
all milled guns. The earlier Rem 31 was the last quality shotgun
Rem made. Back in milled gun days the 870 Rem was considered
2nd rate, Moss 500 even lower. Production cost put the milled
guns out of business. Who would have thought Rem & Moss
would come out on top of market and winners of the race to the
bottom.

Makes me recall when I handled a Remington Model 14 or 141 at a gun show back a while ago Drm. When I racked the slide you could tell the difference between it and a more modern version. Layne Simpson from Shooting Times did a review on a 14 and said if made the same way today would cost at least $3000! Didn't know what I missed out on. LOL

Two fine classics there. Don't let em get away!

My 1st deer rifle was #8 Rem. .35 bought used in 62 for $40. I
couldn't wait to save up a buy a 742 like all the older guys had.
Also had to have a 870 to keep up with the Jones. Between ages
of 12 & 14 I received some smarts. Never bought another stamp
gun. Sold my 742 and went back to 8-81-14-141 Rems. in rifles
and Win 12s- Ith 37 and Brn A5s in repeating shot guns. The old
timers always said a pump with dual action bars was to make up
for the slop in the design. Still have the old 14s & 141s.

I believe the 16 gauge model 12's were built on the 20 gauge frame. Dean

I worked the summer of 1946 picking blueberries ( 2 cents a pint) and doing odd jobs to save enough to buy a new Model 37. If recall, it was about $75. I gave it to my oldest grandson 60 years later - still a beauty !

Gotta love those 37's!! I've got a featherweight 12 gauge with a full choke barrel and a modified barrel. It would be my last pump to go if my daughter who is a lefty hadn't claimed it as hers. What can I say she has great taste.

I have accumulated several left hand safeties for 37s. I think 1/2
of them were owned by Lefties. Guys buy them used and when
they get them home, find out they have had Left hand safeties
installed.