Winchester Mod 12 Featherweight

H Richard

H Richard

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I have a Mod 12 Featherweight IC, 26" with a aftermarket Simmons rib. It only weighs 6 1/2 lbs and is a great bird gun and very handy on the skeet field. As I have been selling off a lot of my collection recently I have someone wanting to buy it, but can't find any recent information of sales. This gun was only made for about 1 year, aprox 52,000 guns built between 58 and 59, and sold from Winchester up until about 1961.

Internet info very limited and not current either. I'm just trying to get a good idea of value, it would be a friends & family pricing. Since Mod 12's have dropped in value the past 5-10 years, would I be in the ball park pricing about $450? Condition is overall good to Very Good.

Since this was a somewhat limited production and I couldn't find any past sales on Gunbroker for comparison, I didn't want to price too cheap.
 
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I was helping a friend clean out her sister's house last month and there was a like new Featherweight there along with 6 or 7 other guns. She asked me to give her values on them and I did a fair amount of research. In return, she surprised me by letting me pick a gun for my work.

I have since done more research on this particular model. According to what I have found they were made from 59 to 61. According to the serial numbers, mine was from 61. I have all of the Gun Digests back to 1944 and could find no mention of this gun.

It is my opinion, most of the M-12 collectors are now deceased. As a result they no longer bring big money. I would think your gun is worth between three and four hundred dollars. I saw 2 sell at auction a couple of months ago and the top money was $450. The other was $150 I believe.

It is possible your rib was attached by the factory. Simmons sent ribs to the factory and the factory sent barrels to Simmons for ribs. Probably no way to tell for sure. Mine also has a Simmons rib on a 28 inch full choke barrel. I bought a NOS 26 inch IC barrel off EBAY.

I mentioned the gun here and this is the thread: Modifdy An Older Firearm? (Already modified) (compromised)
 
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Sad but true. There are just not that many Model 12 fanciers these days.

Even in top condition I would guess it would be difficult to get more than $400-$500 for one.
 
The Cadillac of pump shotguns, no argument there. Winchester stopped building them because they were just too expensive to manufacture. I would have given a kidney for one in the early 70's when I first started hunting birds. They were still highly prized even though they had been out of production for a few years. Almost every trap shooter who could shoot with the big dogs had one. Now you can barely give them away. $400 would be a good price if you want to sell it.
 
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DWalt said:
Sad but true. There are just not that many Model 12 fanciers these days.

Even in top condition I would guess it would be difficult to get more than $400-$500 for one.
Click to expand...

Most of the people who liked them have died off or are no longer able to hunt or shoot any more.
That’s why I have said for years the guys that have been holding onto their collections of pristine condition pre-64 Winchester Model 70’s and Classic Mauser rifles to sell to fund their retirement should already be moving them to sell. Taking into account inflation, their value can only go go down.
The younger to late middle age gun buyers want fiberglass, plastic, semi-automatics with weatherproof finishes, and won’t pay good money for wood and hot blued steel.
 
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H Richard said:
I have a Mod 12 Featherweight IC, 26" with a aftermarket Simmons rib. It only weighs 6 1/2 lbs and is a great bird gun and very handy on the skeet field. As I have been selling off a lot of my collection recently I have someone wanting to buy it, but can't find any recent information of sales. This gun was only made for about 1 year, aprox 52,000 guns built between 58 and 59, and sold from Winchester up until about 1961.

Internet info very limited and not current either. I'm just trying to get a good idea of value, it would be a friends & family pricing. Since Mod 12's have dropped in value the past 5-10 years, would I be in the ball park pricing about $450? Condition is overall good to Very Good.

Since this was a somewhat limited production and I couldn't find any past sales on Gunbroker for comparison, I didn't want to price too cheap.
Click to expand...

Mr. Richard,
I think that price is fair with what we have to go on. With that said, Model 12 20 gauges seem to be pretty hot right now.
Pre-War 20s...red hot!
12 Gauge 3" Heavy Ducks...Pricy!
Riot Guns...Insane.
Trench Guns...Elvis has left the building! (To go to the ATM.)

Poly-Chokes and Cutts Compensators...Kiss of death unless it's a proven WWII USAAC Gunner trainer.
Post war 12 gauges seem to be down right now.
Featherweights tend to sell for less than the break down models.

Condition is everything.

smoothshooter said:
The younger to late middle age gun buyers want fiberglass, plastic, semi-automatics with weatherproof finishes, and won’t pay good money for wood and hot blued steel.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. I just turned 50. Is that Late middle age or do I need to contact Colonial Penn?

Last week I forked out a pile of cash..really too much, for a 1932 dated M-97 30" full choke. It's the most I have ever spent on one gun in my life. Like I said above, condition is everything. That '32 97 was almost like a new shotgun.
 
Some still desire a good quality pump

I guess if you look only at market prices the trend is like stated above...no one seems to want old school blued steel and walnut. Tacticool police type home defense shotguns seem to be all the rage around here until the new owners fire a few rounds then I see them all over Armslist for sale.

My son on the other hand had never shot sporting clays until 2 days ago when his company was part of a multi-company benefit shoot for Ronald McDonald House. He was invited to fill the spot of a team member who couldn't make it. He told the team he would probably stink, but after he went 6 for 6 they said "who brought this ringer in?"

Ithaca M-37 DLX, bought brand new in 1962, still have the hang tag that was the s/n, takedown and cleaning instructions. 12 ga. full choke (the dash 4 after the serial number) 30" bbl. Factory installed Simmons rib (I think Ithaca sent bbls to Kansas City) and in 1965 Ithaca started installing their own ribs.

Now he's hooked and here is another gun that won't get sold. Instead it joins the Ithaca 1943 1911A1, the IHC Garand on the list to go to him when I head for that big gun range in the sky.

OP: Sales price, Worth of your M12? If friend/family basically priceless so $400-$450 is very good in my opinion. I know I would probably blow $450 in a couple weeks at the gas pump so I'd rather give the gun away to someone who will use it as intended and enjoy for more years than I have.
 

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A lot to be said about these conversations regarding newer shooters not wanting older guns… Just look at military weapons that have gone from desirable to never missing a step when passing at a gun show. Plastic and (never used) accessories seem to be the thing now. When I see how some spend a ton of money to hang everything under the sun on an AR kinda makes me wonder…
 
Most people wouldn't know the difference betw a Model 12 and a Model 12 Featherweight anyway.

The Model 12 doesn't interest them unless it's got a 20" bbl and has a Flaming Bomb mark on it,,real or not.

$450 is likely a good selling price for a FW Model 12 now.
The Simmons rib probably an aftermarket add on.
...But never say never with Win. You could get about anything you wanted as long as you paid the price.

I think the FW Model 12's were all plain bbl guns. No extra ribs,,that would not be a wise addition if the marketing point was to be a Featherweight.


I think at that time (Late 50's, very early 60's) Winchester was having Simmons do their VR work, but the ribs were unmarked (no Simmons name on them).
The timeline of Winchester VR work done and who actually made and installed them is available,

I enjoy shooting vintage pump guns of all makes, models.
Prices have never been better on many as the market doesn't seem to care about them unless they are Tacticool or Military.
 
Model 12 fwt

I'm sadly in agreement it's the others here. The market for them has been really soft for decades. The military etc going over to 870's and 500's squished the model 12 mystique. Everybody now thinks the cheaper guns are the poops. I paid a premium for an engraved model recently that fits me unbelievably. Still on the lookout for another 20. My advice would be to pass it down to some family member - it'll be a fine gun forever and hopefully, in a generation or two people will appreciate them for what they are. They sure as heck can't go any cheaper (knock on wood). OR buy it to pass down to your offspring.
 
My model 12's and pre 64 M70's have all gone to different homes with the exception of three M70's. If Winchester had Simmons put the rib on the proof mark would be on the barrel just ahead of the receiver IIRC.
 
I was at a show this morning. There was a mint 12ga featherweight without a rib. $550. As I looked at it I remembered reading this thread. I could believe how model 12 prices have dropped. I have 2 that will never be sold as they were my dads, so I kinda lost track of the market.
 
I have a first-year 20 Gauge Model 1912, refinished and rib added by Simmons, with extra-fancy wood. I took my grand-daughter out a few weeks ago for her first clay bird experience. She shot about 100 rounds, hit about a third of them. All the early Models were made in 20 gauge only.
 
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The M12 is a great shotgun and was "King of the Hill" here in Reno Nevada
back in the 60's and 70's when Harold's Club held all the trap meets at his club, that was 7 miles N/E of town.
Top ammo back then was the Winchester Red double "A's" that 98% of all the ATA shooters used.

They were smooth, never jambed and in the right hands, could fire two shots
faster than the Browning A5 Auto, shotgun.

The good thing is, that it will hold three more shells than a O/U shotgun.

Good luck on your sale.
 
OP, my experience has been when buying: they are top of the market and if someone asks to buy one of mine, it is not worth anything... I have bought mostly very high-condition from 1940s-1950s and every year or two someone will ask me to sell the 16 ga. to their kid for goose hunting + ammo. I am all for supporting youth hunting but I am receiving unsolicited offers of $350 and $400.

I agree that it appears the generation that was keen on these is sadly leaving us and resulting in the price point and/or interest. Heck, now may be the time to buy if you always enjoyed them. The 42 still commands good money for a stock, mostly-mass produced shotgun.
 
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