canoeguy
US Veteran
A pawn shop near me had this Model 12-3 in their case for at least the last two years, optimistically priced at $699. Has some finish wear on the muzzle, some speckling on the cylinder, straight up shooter grade in my opinion. I watched it sit there through the Covid/Social Unrest/Election gun buying panic, no takers.
My mind started wandering about that revolver, figuring out how I might trade for it. I brought some nice Buck knives into the pawn shop the other day, a 119, a 117, several smaller ones, Duke and Squire and ran them past the owner. To my surprise, he warmed up to the deal, taking the Buck knives plus $75. It is now mine:
Now, I know a little bit about Model 12's, not a whole lot. Lightweight aluminum frame, a little narrower at the grip that a normal Model 10. I know the grips are uniquely sized, other K frame grips won't fit. These grips are original. I also know you don't want to shoot a lot of +P ammo in them, and that is OK too, standard lead round nose at moderate velocity is a good fit for me.
I was curious about the weight, on my postal scale it weighed 1 pound, 4 ounces. By comparison, my Stainless Model 64 "No Dash" weighed 1 pound, 14 ounces, so the Model 12 is ten ounces lighter. A good option for all day carry and hiking...
A pic with my Model 64:
Fits nicely in an El Paso Saddlery "#2 Thumbreak" I had laying around:
I ran a few rounds through it just to make sure it was working good, shoots good in single action and double action. Sights are well regulated, and recoil is not bad in this light weight revolver with some mild cast lead handloads.
I'm looking forward to wringing this one out....
My mind started wandering about that revolver, figuring out how I might trade for it. I brought some nice Buck knives into the pawn shop the other day, a 119, a 117, several smaller ones, Duke and Squire and ran them past the owner. To my surprise, he warmed up to the deal, taking the Buck knives plus $75. It is now mine:


Now, I know a little bit about Model 12's, not a whole lot. Lightweight aluminum frame, a little narrower at the grip that a normal Model 10. I know the grips are uniquely sized, other K frame grips won't fit. These grips are original. I also know you don't want to shoot a lot of +P ammo in them, and that is OK too, standard lead round nose at moderate velocity is a good fit for me.
I was curious about the weight, on my postal scale it weighed 1 pound, 4 ounces. By comparison, my Stainless Model 64 "No Dash" weighed 1 pound, 14 ounces, so the Model 12 is ten ounces lighter. A good option for all day carry and hiking...
A pic with my Model 64:

Fits nicely in an El Paso Saddlery "#2 Thumbreak" I had laying around:

I ran a few rounds through it just to make sure it was working good, shoots good in single action and double action. Sights are well regulated, and recoil is not bad in this light weight revolver with some mild cast lead handloads.
I'm looking forward to wringing this one out....