Picked this up at an estate auction a couple days ago. The photo is from the web page. The previous late owner was a doctor (dermatologist) and he really liked shotguns. All types of shotguns; from pricey European side by side and over/under shotguns in 28, 16 and 10 gauge to more common semi-autos, pumps, single-shots and bolt actions in 12 , 20 and 410 gauge.

This Winchester Model 1200 Riot-Gun caught my attention. It is stamped "Riot-Gun" on the barrel incidentally. Evidently the Winchester Defender model came later. The serial number shows it was made in 1972. The first year that Winchester added the L prefix to the serial numbers. My guess is that the good doctor used it as a deer gun in areas where that's all one can use and/or in heavy brush country where ranges are very close. No I don't hunt and I already own several newer more "modern" shotguns, but this one just caught my fancy. It's in very good shape considering that it's almost fifty years old. Passed a function check and is free of rust and pitting. Appears that it saw a few hunting trips and then was retired to the vault. Even the leather sling is in good condition. My winning bid was $200. After figuring in sales tax , buyer's premium and the processing fee for the 4473 I'm at roughly $300. Considering what has happened to gun prices in the past couple years I'm not complaining. I'll be removing the scope in the near future.

It looks like something you would see the small town cop carrying in a movie circa 1973. Some tough beefy middle aged guy played by George Kennedy or Brian Keith. A product from a time of all steel auto bodies, leatherette seating and chrome bumpers. Of course the Model 1200 receiver is actually an aluminum alloy ,but that's not the point.

Or maybe Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972).

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With the scope? A great buy for sure!

That is a cool old gun!

I would certainly feel safe with that and some #1 buck!

I was given a 1200 for Christmas in 1964. I now have 2, the other one was made a few years later. I cut the barrel of the 2nd gun to 20 inches and put Carlson choke tubes in. I hope to put the short barrel on the original gun and take it hunting one more time this year.

It will also make a fine home defense gun. I fired one at Ft Gordon in 69 and saw several in Vietnam.

You got a good deal.

I bought a Model 1200 with choke tubes back the mid-70. I shot a lot of birds with it. It was a good gun and still is.

I own one of those too. How is your scope mounted, a side-saddle mount or was it D&T’d?

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