Another Model 12 in the house

[RussellD]

A few years ago I found an unfired Nickle Model 12 Square butt in the local gun shop. It had rubber grips and red finger nail polish on the front sight but it showed no signs of being fired.

Today several years later i walk into a local shop and there are two model 12's in the case. A square butt import that once dated Swedish babes and a cherry round butt model 12-2 that appeared like new.

I spent the last of my hidden gun stash mad money to purchase a second model 12. So now I have a round butt and square butt. the round butt has factory grips numbered to the gun in like new condition.

Spent a few hours this afternoon carrying a model 12 in my left pocket and a 38-2 in the right. The model 12 seems like the ideal carry gun. Why cant i allow myself to enjoy firing one?

Pics in the morning after I clean and wax the pair...

 

[hotrod150]

Model 12's are unappreciated, at least by the general public. I bought a very nice 1964-ish 2" RB model 12-2 last year, and after owning it for a little while decided to sell it. I advertised it locally on a couple different Seattle-area guntrader websites at what I thought was a pretty good price, and no one even responded. I finally ended up trading it with the one responder for a 1969-ish model 36 Chief in somewhat lesser condition. I probably woulda bought the Chief for what I had in the model 12 so I was OK with that, but the other guy sure got the better end of that trade.

 

[oldafsp]

Such a true statement that the 12's are underappreciated.

I think much of the urban legend of these guns blowing up with +P loads and
such are just that much unfounded bull. Of course it has to be true, it was on the internet....

I have a beautiful 12-2 that was a gift from my wife over a year ago. I shoot it on regular basis and have put over 300 rounds of 125gr and 158gr +P's down the pipe. I even carry it in a old Bianchi X-15 shoulder rig when I ride my Harley on cool days...perfect.

 

[Rio Vista Slim]

Under appreciated in general, perhaps, but not by me. The above pictured 1974 vintage Model 12 was found late last year in a local gun shop. It represented the nicest one I'd seen in many years, and replaced a similar gun I owned in the early 1970s.

While too large for pocket carry (in my opinion), it represents a perfect belt-carry revolver. Exceedingly accurate, I get a lot of pleasure shooting this gun on my rural property.

 

[Muley Gil]

Such a true statement that the 12's are underappreciated.

I think much of the urban legend of these guns blowing up with +P loads and
such are just that much unfounded bull. Of course it has to be true, it was on the internet....

I have a beautiful 12-2 that was a gift from my wife over a year ago. I shoot it on regular basis and have put over 300 rounds of 125gr and 158gr +P's down the pipe. I even carry it in a old Bianchi X-15 shoulder rig when I ride my Harley on cool days...perfect.

If I were forced to use a .38 special as a duty weapon and had a choice, this would be the gun I would carry. It would also be my choice as a ideal farm gun.

I firmly believe in carrying the lightest gun that you can reliably shoot well. I have big, heavy guns and I seldom carry them anymore.

Getting old, I guess.

 

[JCS&W]

I like them as well. Tough to find the M12s in good condition. The finish, in my opinion, does not hold up to constant carry. Here are my two.

 

[RussellD]

I took the round butt to the range today. Shoots like a laser, k frame sights much easier for old eyes to see, a lot more user friendly than an air weight j frame.

 

[P&R Fan]

Everybody seems to want the Round Butt on the M12. I only have one, a 2" 4 Screw blued one with a Square Butt. The stocks are very worn, and feel so nice in my hand. They kinda remind me of Cokes. A Round Butt might have a tiny bit less area to conceal, but the Square Butt feels SO good, at least to me.
Jim

 

[hotrod150]

... Tough to find the M12s in good condition. The finish, in my opinion, does not hold up to constant carry........

I agree. The one model 12 I've owned, a 1962-ish 2" RB 12-2,
was in good condition except for the blue anodizing being worn all the way through on the lower front corner of the frame, the sides of the trigger guard, and the top strap of the frame from being carried in a holster--although with only a very faint turn line on the cylinder, it didn't look like it'd been shot very much. Unfortunately, while I don't mind the "patina" on a holster-worn steel frame Smith, IMHO the bare shiney aluminum on a holster-worn airweight is kinda unsightly. I tried blacking it with a sharpie, but even if you let it dry that goes away if you even look at it hard. There is a product called alumiblack (or ?) but I doubt the results from that would be very attractive.

 

[hotrod150]

A lot of the newer S&W revolvers are ugly. I wouldn't own some of them even if you gave me one.