I have an opportunity to buy a 12-2 Airweight. Four inch barrel. Gun has some holster wear but is very tight. Someone scratched their name on the left side. You can't feel it, but you can see it. Standard wood grips. Has anyone got and hands on shooting experience with one of these? If so, like or dislike? What would you pay for one?? No pics, but some idea of value would help my decision to buy or not.
model 12-2 Airweight questions
- Thread starter DarryH
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With someone's name scratched in it, I'd pay zero...
...Ben
...Ben
Alk8944
US Veteran
It depends on a lot of things, but being defaced with someones name it is purely a shooter. I wouldn't pay over $250-300 for it and only if it has original Model 12 stocks and it is a round butt. 4" Model 12s are far less common than 2", and most 4" guns I have seen have been square butt. My preference is round.
I have owned 5 M-12s, 4-2" RB, and 1-4" RB. Still have 4 of them. The 4" was the only one I had seen when I had the money at the same time! I really wanted a 4", RB, Nickle M-12, but I have only seen one in the past fifty-two years at a gun show, and I didn't have the money.
Someone is sure to warn you about cracked frames on M-12s. This happens, but far less frequently than many will claim! Even steel frames have been known to crack! Personally I have never seen a cracked M-12, and I have examined hundreds of them since the early 1970s.
I have owned 5 M-12s, 4-2" RB, and 1-4" RB. Still have 4 of them. The 4" was the only one I had seen when I had the money at the same time! I really wanted a 4", RB, Nickle M-12, but I have only seen one in the past fifty-two years at a gun show, and I didn't have the money.
Someone is sure to warn you about cracked frames on M-12s. This happens, but far less frequently than many will claim! Even steel frames have been known to crack! Personally I have never seen a cracked M-12, and I have examined hundreds of them since the early 1970s.
Engine49guy
Member
Kind of a conundrum IMO.
If the price is too good to pass up just check under the barrel inside the yoke cut to make sure the frame isn't cracked or it's a paperweight.
An airweight K frame is considerably larger than a J frame for ccw use, u do get that 6th round over the J frames 5.
A square butt K frame is very easily converted to round butt if the gun was a snub and cheap.
Being a 4" not so great for ccw and not so great for the range since it has fixed sights.
If the price is too good to pass up just check under the barrel inside the yoke cut to make sure the frame isn't cracked or it's a paperweight.
An airweight K frame is considerably larger than a J frame for ccw use, u do get that 6th round over the J frames 5.
A square butt K frame is very easily converted to round butt if the gun was a snub and cheap.
Being a 4" not so great for ccw and not so great for the range since it has fixed sights.
Doug M.
Member
A good holster will do fine in concealing a 4" K, especially if you round butt it. My M66 has a been trimmed (by BMCM) and I would carry it without hesitation if suited my needs. A 4" M12 with standard velocity SWC would be an ok platform if you can see the sights well enough.
Jim Watson
Member
Grinding through the anodizing on the backstrap of an Airweight is going to be ugly with a capital Ugh. If it is square, leave it square.
My M12 2" is a pretty stout kicker.
My M12 2" is a pretty stout kicker.
Engine49guy
Member
Grinding aluminum in general is a bad idea,
I traced along a set of round butt grips as the template, cut with hacksaw, finished with a Dremel, a file then with sandpaper.
Applied a blueing chemical that works on aluminum and while not as shiney as the anodizing it works fine for ccw.
I traced along a set of round butt grips as the template, cut with hacksaw, finished with a Dremel, a file then with sandpaper.
Applied a blueing chemical that works on aluminum and while not as shiney as the anodizing it works fine for ccw.
Old Corp
Member
A M12 4" RB I found at a LGS that usually has nothing but black guns.
Picked it up for a bit over $300. No one there had any interest in it.
In great shape, tight, s/n puts it at c.1975.
Great shooter with standard .38 ammo. Do carry it occasionally - and you can forget it's there!
Picked it up for a bit over $300. No one there had any interest in it.
In great shape, tight, s/n puts it at c.1975.
Great shooter with standard .38 ammo. Do carry it occasionally - and you can forget it's there!
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sigp220.45
US Veteran
I’ve got a 2” and 4” Model 12. Great guns, but I think the name scratched into it is a deal breaker unless you get the seller down to around $200.
Its like marrying a girl with a “Property of Big Lenny” tattoo.
Its like marrying a girl with a “Property of Big Lenny” tattoo.
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