A Special Winchester Model 12

[s&wchad]

I've posted this gun before, but never in detail. It's a nicely optioned Winchester Model 12 Pigeon Grade Trap gun that was probably shipped in 1958. Options include a two pin milled rib, grade 5 engraving, B carved wood and a gold plated trigger. Catalog price with these options in 1958 was $640.50. The engraving is much more elaborate than the standard grade 5 pattern, but master engravers were given quite a bit of leeway.

Verifying the original configuration can be a problem, because the Winchester records housed at the Cody Firearms Museum only go up to 1906 (except for the Model 21). Fortunately, Nick Kusmit kept a detailed work ledger of the guns he engraved while working for Winchester and the information was published by Dave Riffle in his book The Greatest Hammerless Repeating Shotgun Ever Built - The Model 12 - 1912-1964. This gun is listed by serial number in the book as a 12-5 pattern that was completed by Nick on 10-1-1957.

Notice the detail of the engraving and compare it to the much more typical grade 5 pattern on the "Y" Model 12 shown later.

See the two rocks at the bottom of the pattern near the front? That's where Nick Kusmit usually stamped his initials.

"N K"

My photos don't do it justice.

The gold plated trigger was a $10 option!

Pigeon Grade!

Pretty nice wood.

B carved stock. Note the fleur-de-lis carvings, the ribbons and the different checkering line counts.

Two pin milled rib...

aka two pin Duckbill.
Also note the receiver matting, standard with this rib.

Factory pad.

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Compare the Kusmit gun to this 1970's "Y" Model 12 Grade 5 Skeet gun.

Y models had an investment cast receiver, which was less expensive to produce than the earlier forged receivers. The rib was secured with a rivet, but they did hand engrave them. This one has plumed, not unlike some Rugers. This engraving pattern and coverage is much more typical of the factory grade 5 pattern and shows just how extraordinary the Kusmit gun really is.

The "Y" model has "B pattern Checkered" wood, not "B carved". Still a nice chunk of lumber.

Carved on the right, checkered on the left.

The Kusmit gun is one of my personal favorites. I have no idea who ordered it, but I suspect Nick Kusmit didn't get this carried away with the engraving on a whim. A friend of mine recently sent a letter to Nick because of a grade 5 Model 42 that he owns. Nick is now in his 90's, but he phoned after receiving the letter. I'm told that Nick is still sharp as a tack and quite a gentleman.

Feel free to post any Winchester Model 12's, they're all special!

 

[msinc]

Wow, very nice gun. I have a 12-5B pigeon grade 20 ga. Didn't know about the initials...I will have to check it when I get home. Mine has a three pin rib and the fleur-de-li's{??sic} look different. I have 6 ribbed Model 12's and one 42 that is a two barrel set skeet gun. Love 'em all. I think it's a fair and accurate statement to say that more feather crotch black walnut has been used on Model 12 buttstocks than any other gun ever. I got started collecting them when I bought an old 12 gauge that was blowing itself open when fired and I had to research and figure out how to fix it. I think few people realize that every metal part on the {pre-64} gun was fully machined out of a solid block of steel. That and the 870 put them under.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Wowzers! That is a beaut!

Here is a not very good picture of my Model 1912 16 ga., made in 1915, I think the first year for the 16 ga. Factory cylinder choke. This is the day I brought it home and my Rebel dog claimed it as his own.

It's been used, somebody checkered the grip but did a pretty good job, not a lot of finish on the receiver, but it's tight as a tick and gets out for a hunt every now and again. I've killed quite a few woodcock with it--I can't be the first to hunt with it and I sure wish it could tell stories!

 

[10 X]

That is the most beautiful shotgun I have ever seen.
I wonder, do you intend to shoot it?
Personally, I think I would have to.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Beautiful Gun.

How does it shoot at the 16 yd line?

A friend of mine had a plain mod 12 trap and I use to shoot it a lot. It was a grinder but at the time couldn't afford to buy it. He sold it and that was the last time I ever used a Mod 12. I use a Browning Broadway now for my trap shooting.

 

[s&wchad]

I wonder, do you intend to shoot it?
Personally, I think I would have to.

How does it shoot at the 16 yd line?

I've owned it for a number of years and haven't shot it, I probably never will. I've shot quite a few Model 12's and while they're very nice, I shoot an O/U better. Besides, if anything happened to it, I'd be sick.

 

[panther]

That is a beauty, thanks for showing it to us.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I am overwhelmed. You are a very lucky guy. Don

 

[straightshooter1]

I mentioned, in another post, that we don't see too many Model 12s on the trap field anymore.

This one would sure get some looks, though, and, if you want, you could let me borrow it for the Dixie Grand. I'd put my Perazzi in the safe and shoot this for both 16s and Handicap.

I know, seriously, that it is too beautiful and valuable to shoot, but surely you must have been tempted at least a little bit.

Model 12s, though a bit flat shooting for my style, really do crush targets and those few shooters who still use them are usually pretty darn good at breaking clays.

Bob

 

[Gregor]

Nick Kusmit passed away Dec. 13, 2010 at 3:05 PM

 

[s&wchad]

Nick Kusmit passed away Dec. 13, 2010 at 3:05 PM

Thank you for telling me, I'm very sorry to hear that.

 

[29aholic]

That is one fine looking scatter gun. I shot trap some and even used a Model 12 a few times. I also used to clean the field from the 16's with a Model 42 when I was feeling frisky...pissed some people off that way.
I started playing the skeet game and eventually Olympic Skeet. Wore out a Browning Citori doing it.

 

[Steave]

Beautiful gun, Chad!

Unfortunately, Nick passed away several weeks ago.

 

[Steave]

Chad, a good book for you to check out, if it isn't already in your library, is Winchester, The Way it was by Pauline Muerrle, Untitled Document Pauline was an engraver at Winchester and, IIRC, trained under Nick. The book is an easy, great read.

 

[s&wchad]

I started playing the skeet game and eventually Olympic Skeet. Wore out a Browning Citori doing it.

I like skeet better than trap! Congratulations on the Citori, I've never won anything as nice as that. We don't have international at the local clubs, but I'd love to try it some time.

Chad, a good book for you to check out... is Winchester, The Way it was by Pauline Muerrle...

Thanks and you're right, I should get her book. She engraved a Model 12 solid rib trap gun that I once owned. It was in superb condition, except for some scratches on the left front of the receiver where a previous owner buggered it up trying to put it back together. I haven't seen it since the new owner had her engrave it, but he tells me he shoots it regularly and loves it. I wasn't crazy about the way it shot. It didn't fit me well and my cheek knew every time it went off. The heat waves off the barrel were a bit distracting, but that's why they invented ventilated ribs.

 

[RABULL]

Wow, what nice looking Model 12's. I have a 1955 Winchester Model 12 Pigeon Grade Shotgun. It's a great shotgun but it sure does not look near as good as yours... Congratulations!!!

 

[28Shooter]

Beautiful shotguns. Thank you for posting.

 

[firearmsunlimited]

How did the receiver get all scratched up?

 

[wundudnee]

That is one very beautiful Model 12. Here is the other end of the model 12 spectrum. I got this gun when i was 14 years old from Montgomery Wards, for $55.00. It is a WWll military riot gun with all the ordnance marks, flaming bomb, 20" cylinder marked bore, with the WB cartouche on the stock. The shame of it is, someone installed a Weaver choke, checkered the stock and installed a beavertail forearm, installed a butt pad and a grip cap. I have hunted with this old gun all my life and I'm now 71 years old. It is beautiful in i'ts own bubbaed way. I do have an unmolested 1963 Model 12 20 guage, that I've had since 1966. Classic shotguns that will outlast us.