A Special Remington Model 12 Pump 22

Hello from my home shelter. Hopefully things will open up a little next week. This situation does allow me time to start a thread on my F Grade Remington Model 12. This gun dates to 1912 based on the hand engraved serial number. This gun has been well cared for in the last 108 years but it has been used for what it was intended for. I can only imagine how proud the owner was after paying the large sum of $75.00 for this rifle and walking the fields and forests with pride of ownership of this rifle. Bill

Wow! That’s some fine engraving
Thanks for showing
And the wood!! Amazing that it’s over 100 years old

That is an absolute gem!

A very beautiful firearm. It's a little funny in that I can think about buying that rifle 75 years ago and taking it out in the field to show it off to my hunting buddies but now I would be scared to scratch it. Oh what a difference 38,500 days make.

She is beautiful for sure. I wonder what something like that would cost today. It made me get out my Rem. mod.31. Nowheres near as ornate but special to me.

$75.00 in 1912 was about $2000 in today’s dollars. Bill

Beautiful!

Punp it up

Wow! That beats my well used, well taken care of Remington
Take Down Model 12 22lr Pump. Unbelievably Accurate
shooting.

Only thing special about mine is the Little Tang Sight on it.

Thank you so much for the Story and Pictures.

Reproduction Tin Sign someone gave me years ago.

I have a model 12 as well, however just a 12A and not a bit like your movie star!!

The Norseman said:

Wow! That beats my well used, well taken care of Remington
Take Down Model 12 22lr Pump. Unbelievably Accurate
shooting.

Only thing special about mine is the Little Tang Sight on it.

Thank you so much for the Story and Pictures.

Reproduction Tin Sign someone gave me years ago.

Click to expand...

Nice man cave sign.

I have read cautions that only standard velocity ammunition should be used in a Model 12. While I have fired some HV .22 LR in mine without issues, I play it safe by using only SV.

Beautiful rifle ! My model 12’s bolt withdraws from battery if back pressure is applied to the forearm, after firing. Pretty sure the bolt should not un-lock like that ( essentially straight blow-back). Is that normal, gents ?

That octagonal barrel looks so good on that rifle.

yours is beautiful... mine is only a 12A... from 1926 if I researched it correctly... it is a tribute gun to my late father... My older brother got that one... so I found one that had been scrubbed free of rust with an SOS pad and had it restored... fun one to shoot and I just got a brick of 22 shorts to have some fun when the the shackles are removed from the world...

A real beauty!! Super fancy ones like this are a super pleasure just to look at without pulling the trigger. And that wood!!

That is a beauty!

Congrats on owning such a beautiful Model 12. I will always have a soft spot for a Model 12. It was my first .22 when I was growing up. I went with my Dad when he bought it from an old gunsmith in my home town. It was priced at $25 and my Dad talked him down to $18 if I remember right.
Myself and my boys put thousands of rounds through that gun.
I taught both of my sons how to shoot with the that Model 12. Unfortunately I had to sell it many years ago when things were tight. Sure wish that I had it back. JA

jpage said:

Beautiful rifle ! My model 12’s bolt withdraws from battery if back pressure is applied to the forearm, after firing. Pretty sure the bolt should not un-lock like that ( essentially straight blow-back). Is that normal, gents ?

Click to expand...

The action should be unlocked and free to open with hand pressure applied to the forend to move the forend backwards AFTER the round is fired,,,or if the rifle is 'dry fired' (not recommended).
The action is unlocked when the hammer is in the down/fired position.

However...IF.. you can simply open the action with the hammer still being cocked and can do that WITH OUT pushing in on the 'slide release latch' located in front of the trigger guard,,then the rifle needs attention.

These rifles are rated for Standard Vel .22 ammo. They were designed when that was all that was made.
The locking shoulder on the bolt is fairly small and does not extend all the way across it. It's not uncommon for the locking shoulder to crack on these. The corresponding locking recess machined in the roof of the rcev'r can get a little battered as well, but usually can be saved.
A stripped replacement bolt can be pricey and there are a couple different styles depending on era of mfg and a different one for the .22 Rem cal
Stick to StdVel and they hold up fine.

I know,,everyone has one or knows someone that has one that's seen 1000's of rounds of SuperDuper AP Stinger HV ammo and it's just fine.
Bungee Cords never break either.
They are not made for it. Just like Marlin 97's aren't made it.
Both will crack their bolts eventually.


The later mfg Model 121 updated the bolt with a larger locking lug stretching all the way across the bolt top surface and also a little higher. they will take HiVel ammo just fine.

Remington made some fine looking high grade firearms, the Model 12 was not left out of the fun.
Best quality European Walnut stocks were used. Same engravers that cut their high grade repeating shotgun and rifles and had cut their SxS's were doing up these as well.
Joseph Loy was one of the best and did work for Remington as well as Parker and I believe Ithaca.

There's been a high grade Remington Model 12, Expert Grade I believe, around at few of the local GunShows late last year. The Covid thing has placed all that into hiding now.
But the rifle screams out for a complete restoration,,wood, metal, engraving, checkering,,everything.

It's never been reblued or refinished,,just very used and worn. A few D&T holes in the top of it's oct bbl. Perfect bore, just a very high grade gun that got used up.
Unfortunately when I look at it, I see the gun in the real world condition it's in.
For some reason, the dealer that has it has some special eyeglasses that must embellish the condition a great amt, as he seems to see condition and finish to extreme %'ages that I just can't see.
His out of site asking price is no where near my idea.
Oh well, maybe after things open up again. It's just another project but the type I really enjoy doing. One of those needs to be saved things.
Maybe it'll be buffed and parkerized the next time I see it.

Pumped up

This is a Great Thread. Thanks bracebeemer for Sharing and
starting discussion on this Wonderful Rifle; Remington Model 12.

Thanks 2152hq for the information about the Bolt, No Dry
Firing, and Standard Velocity 22lr.

I will use only SV 22lr from now on! Looked at my Box of CCI
SV 22lr = 1070 fps. My other 22lr is +1200 fps.

I inspected the Bolt Locking Shoulder, and mine's Ok. Only SV
from now on! Thank you!

While looking at the Bolt, I noticed how the innards are finely
machined and sharp edged.

I think I knew all this, but good reminders and review again.
Haven't looked at the Model 12 for awhile.
Serial Number is Model 12, 6970XX.
Wonder what Year that is?

Thank you so much!

Tang Sight

Here's a link to a Ser# chart from the Remington Collectors Society for
the Model 12.
Ser# given is the last one produced for the particular year.

I don't know that there are any full documented production records for the M12. These are as many ser# range records go in that they are done by taking known examples with their dates of shipment/sale and then filling in the blank areas from there (extrapolation?)

Probably about the best source at any rate.

Serials Model 12 – Remington Society of America

Roaring 20's

Thank you for the Remington Collectors Society Link for the
Serial Number Date.

Appears my well used, unbelievably accurate, well taken care
of Remington Take Down Model 12 22lr Pump, Serial Number
is Model 12, 6970XX was made in 1927 (93 years old).

Thanks again!