I recently purchased a Model 1000 12ga at a gun show. The seller did not have any owners manual and could only tell me he thinks his father purchased it in the late 70's. I am just curious if he is correct in manufacture time and what exact model I have, should I be looing in a certain area for other stampings? I hope someone can help me figure out exactly what I have.

I assume your model is a 1000 semi-automatic. They also produced a Model 1000P pump. In either case, the guns were manufactured in Japan by Howa in the 1970’s and early 1980’s so your timeline is probably correct. Most people believe the quality is quite good, and the guns bear a striking resemblance to some Remington shotguns (the 870, for example).
I believe the Model 1000 semi-auto model number was subsequently changed to 3000.
You might try a Google search for additional information.

Thank you for the information, it is a semi-automatic and is stamped manufactured in japan to S&W specifications. i will look through the manuals posts to find the correct one for me , this is my first semi-auto shotgun and i want to disassemble inspect and clean and lube before range time . I will also Google search to see if I can get a date breakdown of the serial number . Again Thank you.

The pump action shotgun made by Howa for Smith & Wesson became the Model 3000. The semi auto shotgun was always the Model 1000. They do look a lot like the Remington shotguns, but i don't think any parts will interchange, except maybe the S&W 3000 (pump) and the Remington 870 stocks.

I was also going to say, I believe your gun and the Model 3000 pumps were made by Howa, so quality should be quite good. Mossberg picked these up after S&W dropped them so a Mossberg manual might also be helpful. I'm sure a Google search will yield a manual, either a PDF or maybe off of Fleabay.

I have a 3000, bought new in 84. Looks like and is as reliable as the 870. When working in Alaska and having too much time my hands, I needlessly Cerakoted it in matte black. Turned out nice, but wished I would have left it alone.

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213th FBINA

Model 3000 & 1000 Shotgun, 1500 & 1700 Rifle Manuals

They are good shotguns. You do need to check the piston shock absorber, No.27 in the exploded view of the S&W manual, it is a rubber washer that has a tendency to turn to goo and gum up the works. New ones can be acquired here: Piston Shock Absorber, 12 Ga., New Reproduction | Gun Parts Corp.

The S&W Model 1000 semi-auto was manufactured for S&W from 1972 to 1984.

KO

Congratulations on your purchase! I also have a Model 1000, had it since I was a child. It's a good shotgun, but like ko41 said you'll need to check the piston shock absorber. If the gun has been shot any at all then more than likely it's not in great shape. I believe the original shock absorbers weren't resistant to cleaning lubricants and they turned to goo. The replacement shock absorbers are supposed to be better. So even if the shock absorber in the shotgun looks ok, I would probably go ahead and replace it anyway. I just replaced mine and one in another Model 1000 for someone else. Mine was completely gone with just a black goo in it's place. The other one was still there, but broken into pieces. It's a very easy process. There is a youtube video that shows complete disassembly and reassembly which makes it even easier.

Just curious. Mind if I ask how much you paid for the shotgun?

Great advice in this post. I got mine as a Christmas present in '82. I've kept it in nice shape, but hadn't used it in about 30 years. I did some research and found that the shock absorber had turned into a glob of tar. It took some cleaning to get the remnants out, but I managed to get it clean and install the new one. I ran a box of target loads through it - with the only malfunction being a failure to extract/eject on the first round. It ran flawlessly after that.

The Model 1000 is a really nice shotgun. Not much recoil to speak of and (when properly serviced) performs nicely.

Congrats on your purchase.

I paid $275, it was my early birthday present from my wife.

Sounds like a good price!

Fox

1000 was 23/4” shells
1000m was 2 3/4” & 3” with adjustments ie high to low power
1000 super will shoot anything with no adjustments because of a different gas system but be advised super barrels will not interchange with the 1000m or 1000

The 1000super didn’t have the gas seal problems as the others or shall I say usually didn’t .

Very nice gun! Even nicer that you were able to buy it new. How available are these guns in pump or semi to find? I would love to find one in decent condition. Also, how pricey are they? Have they gone crazy like most older guns or can they be found for less than a mint?

An old pic, i've had this model 1000 20 gauge for years. used to be a favorite hunting gun. very lightweight.

I just purchased a In the box "Unfired" 1000m in 12ga made in approx. 1978. As all have said the gas piston shock absorber was a pile of gooey tar in the magazine tube with no solvents being used so the one put in at the factory just turns to goo over a period of time. The wood is absolutely gorgeous and the receiver is blued metal and not the alloy receiver of the base 1000 model. I paid $550 for it and the quality is up there with my Beretta A400's but the furniture on the S&W 1000M is much nicer.
I have a made in 1977 1000M in 20 ga on the way now. I call these "One of the Worlds Best Kept Secrets". Because of a few interweb trolls that deemed it a jamomatic and fail to talk about the quality you can still pick up a Very nice 1000 for less than $500 that may just need a $5-$9 rubber absorber to be a First Class Shotgun.


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Pictures Please.

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Shield 45, SW40VE, 586, 1000

I shot one for part of a duck season, probably in the early /mid 80's. I believe it was a DU gun, it had nice wood and a sliver engraved receiver. It looked good, worked, pointed nice and was an effective hunting gun. I remember it having very sharp edges and corners.
However, my dad didn't;t like it much and traded or gave it away. Never could figure out his issue with it.

OZ

Wow, you found yourself a nice one there.
I too, found an unfired NIB 1000M albeit it was 1982, and I ordered it out of the Montgomery Ward catalog. With a 10% discount they were offering at the time the price was $368.99. I do still have that 1000M and others.



KO

Does anyone know who has any stocks for the S&W 1000 shotgun? Parts are getting very difficult to find as time goes on, and the gentleman who ran LGS died a few years ago. I've not been able to find out where his supply of parts went. I have a terrific 1000 Skeet, and am giving it to my daughter in law. The comb is too low for her, as it is for me, and I hate to have that pretty wood cut for adjustable comb.