Would like to know the value of a model 12 16 gauge shotgun?? Made in late 40’s, has a plain barrel in 30” length. Needs an old pad replaced and has a Crowe lever type safety. 85% overall original condition. Pretty decent old shotgun, shooter, not a collector. Thanks!!

Wonderful old shotguns! My best guess on price would be in the $400-450 range based on your assessment.

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Pass it on.
Mark

I believe $400-450 is optimistic for an 85% field grade gun in 16 gauge. Any 16 gauge shotgun will be a slow mover. I’d guess more like around $250-300.

I might suggest going on some auction sites and see what people are paying for them. Not necessarily what they are asking, but what they are selling for. That would probably be the best method given the particular gun in question here.

While the 16 gauge shotgun is still very capable, 16 ga. has been waning lately and getting shells for them is a bit difficult and pricy compared to 12 ga. That might affect the price a bit, especially not being a "collector" grade.

40's gun, 85%, Field grade, 16ga, Aftermarket pad added(?) at some point, needs new one now.

About a $300 gun on the right day. Most offers will be $250 +/-

JMO of course.

It's kind of a shame. They are great shotguns, but not many people looking for a Upland Game hunting shotgun anymore, esp 16ga.
It's not a fashionable 'Clay Target' gun, though you certainly can use it for that. And it's not a Winchester collectible.
So where does it fit in.
It's likely a fine old shooter. Worth? about $300 I'd say.

If a 12 or 20ga,,it'd have a better chance at life.
Even then, most are leary of 80yr old mechanical things especialy firearms. Buyers want warrantees, service support, parts in bubble packs at the local Gunshop.

I paid 380.00 for a Model 1912 in 20 ga at a cabelas last year. I’d never seen one before, love the scaled down size. Dates from 1914. Had a dumb polychoke on it, wood is solid. It runs fine but looks its age. Going to refinish it and make a Crazy Lee riotgun out of it. I wouldn’t have messed with it in 16 ga as I reload 12 and 20.

I might have paid $250 or $300 for a tricked out/cut down Model 12 in 15 gauge when I was shooting cowboy action. 20 years ago. I'd wager it's not worth much more than that except to a cowboy action shooter.

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Come and take it!!

Post some photos please.

Cas shooters can use the ‘97 but Wild Bunch can also use a M12 but afaik only in 12 ga. Of course clubs can allow any gun that they want for their monthly shoots. I use a Marlin Model 24 and 30 [20 ga] at my club but they aren’t allowed in a state or regional sass event. One of our gal shooters uses a ‘97 in 16 ga.

IIRC the 16ga Model 12s were made on the same compact actions as the 20ga. I have a 16ga Model 12 and like it very much. Handles much better than my 12ga. Would love to try a 20ga.

While I agree with many things DWALT says, I have to respectfully disagree with his statement that the 16-gauge is a slow mover. Finally knowledgeable hunters are going back to the 16 gauge, calling it the queen of upland hunting. The Winchester model 12's in 16, 20 and 28 gauge were lighter than the 12's. Very sweet handling and easy to carry in the field. An old saying about the 16 gauges, carries like a 20 gauge but kills like a 12 gauge. 16-gauge model 12's are becoming sought out and prices are rising. I myself have been looking for several years for a prewar 16-gauge solid rib at a price less than a good used car and haven't found one yet.

The 16 gauge is a slow to no mover in my area. The 3” 20 gauge pounded the last nails into the lid of the 16 gauge’s coffin. I was gifted a Springfield/Stevens 67 16 gauge shortly before the pandemic started because the owner couldn’t sell it. I gave it to some girls to use to shoot coyotes, I think they have taken five with it and one bobcat looking thing. I like oddball stuff myself though.

There's a 16 gauge website I have enjoyed going to in the past. I can't find it right now so maybe it's gone.

When I was looking for a Browning Sweet 16, I sure didn't see any for bargain prices!

Good luck finding a buyer, they are out there!

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You're shy a few manners.

I would agree that these days 16ga's are slow movers at anything but dirt cheap prices. Some higher end double guns will still bring a good amount. I picked this Mod 12 up last year on an online auction. With the buyer's premium, $100 shipping charge, and transfer fee, it cost me $410. Looks to be the original blue, restocked, barrel shortened to 23", pedestal bead and thin walled choke tubes installed. As far as I'm concerned, I stole it at that price. I figure the stock work alone cost someone $300. I bought two cases (500 rounds) of Fiocchi Game and Target in April for $263 delivered, and it runs them like a champ!

It's a SIN to circumcise the barrels on old mdl 12's to make them into a useless play toy..........Find a cheap mossburg to ruin.

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S&W Accumulator

Useless play toy? I don't know about that. With a short barrel and chokes it makes for a great upland gun. I have no use for a fixed choke shotgun, and I think the market is quite clear that original condition 16ga Mod 12's aren't collector's items. I prefer shorter barrels as well, so for me it was perfect, certainly not ruined! I wouldn't have paid $410 for it in NIB condition. Though I probably wouldn't spend the money to have this one built, I'm glad whomever did decided to part with it. Life's too short to shoot Mossbergs .

If you think this one is a sin, I can only imagine what you'd think of my 18.5" solid ribbed 20ga... (that I also picked up already modified though I did add the pistol grip). The grip came from a 12ga left eye dominate stock that I picked up for $15 IIRC. It was covered in a tar like substance that took a few days in an acetone bath to remove + about an hour spent reshaping, refinishing, and fitting it to the smaller frame.

If you take a 16 to a gun store to sell it, you will hear that "Nobody wants one, they are slow movers, hard to get ammo, obsolete, replaced by 3" 20g, etc."

But go into the store when they have one for sale and you will think you entered an alternate universe! "That's all I ever hunt with now, making a big comeback, surge in demand, perfect compromise between 12 and 20, ..."

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You're shy a few manners.

Yep. You ruined them for any practical use.(hunting/clays/skeet etc) I still don't understand why people chop up classic firearms instead of cheap mossbergs.

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S&W Accumulator

The 16 ga model 12 was made on the 20 ga frame. They are delightful guns usually overlooked by those who don’t hunt.

I have a prewar example with a cutts compensator. A little ugly with the compensator, but functionally perfect for all upland game and early season water fowl.. These guns were frequently sent to Simmons for reblue and compensator so it’s not uncommon to see those modifications on M12’s.

Appropriate non toxic ammunition for waterfowl can be pricey, but you won’t go through much ammo in a season of hunting. I’ve got a flat I bought several years ago and I haven’t opened the second box yet. I’ve killing a few seasons limits of early water fowl with the first box of ammo.

I use it as a backup gun to lend on hunting trips. I’ve never lent it to anyone who had a complaint about it after using it.

Like I said, already cut down when I bought it. As to why someone would chop it down instead of a Mossberg... because a chopped down Mossberg is still a Mossberg. This Mod 12 has class, and a short barrel.

The first thing you may want to do is check the chamber length. It could be a 2 9/16 in. instead of a 2 3/4 in. That will make a big difference.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

By 1930, around serial #500000 they all had 2 3/4" chambers.

This was my M1912 20 ga. Functional but rough with a polychoke. A good donor imo.

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There is no problem in firing a 2-3/4” shell in a slightly shorter chamber. That is a widely believed total myth with no foundation in fact. The REAL problem with the early Model 12s having shorter chambers is that they also have shorter ejection ports, and longer fired cases will not eject. And it is very difficult to lengthen the ejection port. I have a very early (first year of production) Model 1912 in 20 gauge with the shorter chamber. It ejects Winchester and Remington 2-3/4” fired cases just fine. But Federal plastic cases are slightly longer, and will tie up the gun as they will not clear the ejection port. BTW, the earlier Model 1912 (later the Model 12) shotguns were made only in 20 gauge. Other gauges came a few years later.

If produced in late 1940’s it should have 2 3/4” chamber because Winchester standardized 16 ga chambers at 2 3/4” in late 1920’s.

Great guns!

I have a late 1940s one in collector condition that I paid $575.00 for about five years ago if that helps. 16 ga makes a great goose hunting gun.

FWIW

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Rather be outdoors

16ga.com ~ Index

This might be the one. I hadn't visited it for awhile. It feeds one of my other addictions. I still regret passing on a Model 12 that would have been 95% plus if not for a big chip out of the toe of the stock. That was 5 years ago for $350.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

For some reason, the 16 gauge has always been very popular in Europe, but not so much in the US. As earlier stated, the availability of 16 gauge shells is somewhat problematic. There may be a few boxes to be found on dealer’s shelves, but if there, not offering much in the way of load variety. I occasionally drop into Academy just to see if there is anything of interest. Usually there is not, but I always peruse the ammunition area. Normally, nothing in 16 gauge shells is to be seen but occasionally there are several boxes. I once had a good friend who was an ace trap shooter. He used an old Mossberg 500 pump in 16 gauge and was very good with it. But he always reloaded his own shells. He was the only trap shooter I ever saw who used a 16. Nor do I remember seeing anyone using a 16 for Skeet. In terms of its present day popularity, it is probably on par with the 28 gauge. I would like to know comparative sales of all shotshell gauges in the USA, but I have never seen anything like that. I am not saying that the 16 gauge is a poor choice or that is lacking in performance, but only that for undefinable reasons it is not on the starting roster among American hunters and clay bird shooters.

Model 12s just are not as desirable as they used to be.

Years ago I had a 12 in 16ga (maybe 70%). Got it for $265, shot all my ammo, and what I could find locally. After a couple months of trying to sell, eventually took 250

Brother restored a black diamond trap that he had picked up for cheap, he came close to breaking even when he sold it. He enjoyed the project, but was disappointed in the interest (or lack of).

I suspect $300 might be a good number in these trying ammo times.

I feel the same way when I look at any Corvette or first gen Camaro that has been Resto Modded. Some things simply need to be stock. Refinish/restore is fine. But leave it stock. I have a model 12 16ga with poly choke. I had it professionally restored along with my dads 12ga model 12 back in the early 90s. They are almost too pretty to take in the woods.

I have one that my Uncle bought years ago. It has the short chamber and the only modification done to shoot 2 3/4" shells was to open the ejection port at the front. Still shoots great.

I am sitting on seven full boxes of Western 16 gauge shells from the late 1940s. It is probably about time for me to sell them to someone who has a nice 16 gauge Model 12 from the same time period.

I have never attempted to lengthen the ejection port of my short chambered 20 gauge Model 1912. That is taking things a bit too far for such a good condition early gun. I simply do not use Federal shells in it as they have cases that are slightly too long to clear the port. Winchester and Remington case lengths are slightly shorter and do clear the port. About its only use today is for my 19-YO grand-daughter to shoot skeet with.

Yep, that was the problem with my grandfather's Browning A5. It has the 2 9/19" chamber and fires ok but ejecting the 2 3/4" shells was a problem.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

Holy smokes!

I’ve long admired the Model 12, 16 GA that my dad, now 88, inherited from one of his 3 uncles, all of whom I knew as a kid. When I learned it was promised to my nephew, (I’m truly happy for him) I knew I needed to find my own.

This has been seen here, before. I believe I paid $600 out the door for this one in 2020 or 2021. It’s very close in serial number range to my dad’s and I feel fortunate to have found it in such good condition.

For anyone who’s never held one, it just feels like an extension of you, points naturally, and is a magnificent product of American (thank you JMB) design and manufacture.

$400? $600?…
I personally don’t get twisted up anymore about a couple of hundred dollars -if the condition is right!

-Bill

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

No that's a sweet 16!

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213th FBINA

The model 12 wasn’t a JMB design though, was it?

In part.
Though, I could have more accurately said…

Based on the Model 1893/1897 but improved upon by T.C. Johnson. Mr. Johnson deserves his due.

Thanks for catching that, James.

-Bill

T.C. Johnson - Wikipedia

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90