Old, ugly, worn out, and I own it. Winchester 1912 in the house

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

ABTOMAT

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2006
Messages
926
Location
USA
Some of you folks were very helpful in the past when I asked about a shotgun an old friend would eventually give me. Well, it's come home. Winchester Model 1912, 12ga full choke 30" barrel, 1914 (55xxx) production. Turns out I know the family that probably originally bought it, too.

Well-used over its 96 years. More "patina" than finish and needs a rebuild, if the wobbly bolt (locked forward with a shell in the chamber I can move it up and down a bit) is any indication, but it's a solid old gun. A little 'smithing and a new recoil pad should put things right.

IMG_1372.jpg

IMG_1373.jpg

IMG_1376.jpg

IMG_1377.jpg

IMG_1378.jpg

IMG_1380.jpg

IMG_1382.jpg

IMG_1383.jpg

IMG_1384.jpg

IMG_1385.jpg
 
Nice piece of American history you have there. I have a 16ga made in '54 and a 12ga made in '62. Probably just needs the headspacing ring adjusted or replaced. A competent smith should be able to fix you right up. And that pad certainly needs replacing. But I wouldn't mess with the metal. That "Patina" tells a story. Congratulations.
 
i bet its no where close to being wore out, and it looks just fine as is, got two in my safe one looks just about like your, use it and enjoy it the mod 12 is a fine shotgun!
 
Looks like a 'Take Down' version...


Very nice...mellow, honest, and now everyone else here wants one like that.


Lol...

True!

I want one like that now also...
 
I own 2 old shotguns, but no old pump guns...I have a 1923

Iver Johnson Champion 12 Ga, a single shot, and a 12 ga double made for a sporting goods store in Philly by Crescent around 1905. Both shoot very well. I am taking the IJ small game hunting this fall, maybe taking the double out for birds later this year, too...

I'd have a good shotgun man check it, use a little metal polish on it, but not re-blue it or anything...I used Mother's wheel polish on my old guns - takes off a lot of rust leaves the finish and polishes and protects the metal.

enjoy it.

mark
 
Great gun - honestly, I love the character that guns like that have.

Oyeboten, they're all takedown guns.

How's the barrel/receiver lockup? Bolt tight and doesn't fire until fully in battery? These were great guns but the manufacturing process was incredibly complex with a lot of hand fitting.

I was going to replace the ring that retains the forearm on mine a while back and found out that it is a part that is supposed to be fitted to the specific gun. Almost fell over in amazement, then took a look at the part again and saw why...no one builds guns like that any more, for better and worse. None of us could afford them, made the way they were, if they were for sale new today.
 
Thanks guys. Yeah, I have no plans to change its appearance, other than a recoil pad. Being a hobby machinist I can appreciate how painstakingly the 1912 was made, compared to modern shotguns like the 970 or 500. Those don't feel very elegant in the hand.

Lockup at the take down joint is good and firm. For some reason the adjusting ring is outside the notches on the loose side, rather that too tight as they usually are as they wear. Hoping this isn't a problem. That and the bolt wobble I plan on seeing a 'smith about.
 
Thanks guys. Yeah, I have no plans to change its appearance, other than a recoil pad. Being a hobby machinist I can appreciate how painstakingly the 1912 was made, compared to modern shotguns like the 970 or 500. Those don't feel very elegant in the hand.
Click to expand...

With the acknowledgment that it's your gun, I'd plead with you not to cut the stock, if it hasn't already been cut, when you install the pad. Original Model 12 wood has gotten very (too) expensive. If you need to cut it, consider buying one of the affordable replacements and cutting that one? But, it is your gun!!!
 
I'm not touching the stock. I think it's already been cut, but I'm not sure. How does one tell?
 
I think it's already been cut, but I'm not sure. How does one tell?
Click to expand...
Both of mine have the original Winchester butt plate and they measure (LOP) just a hair under 14" from the trigger to the center of the stock.
 
Mine measures 12-3/4" from the trigger to the center of the bare butt (ha!). Guess I'm gonna need a big recoil pad to bring it back to stock. I have long arms.
 
Well, no, that dimension plus a 1" pad comes out about right. The originals were in the 14" range but that's close.

I recently bought one that had also been trimmed. It had a very old Pachy on it. I traced the outline of the buttstock on a piece of paper and compared it to the templates on the Limbsaver website. Guess what - one of the Remington 700 pre-fit pads was a PERFECT fit. I just had to drill the correct holes. What a difference!!!
 
I have long arms.
Click to expand...
A good smith can fit you up to your LOP and make it look like it grew there. Perhaps a black spacer and a grind to fit black Decelerator pad. Although a red rubber pad like it has, would look more like pads of the era.
 
My best friend has one like that and from about the same period. He's the third generation of his family to use it. He's the one who introduced me to shooting and that Winchester was the first gun I ever shot shot as an adult and used it for my first round of trap.

It needs some mechanical work now which he'll get done since he wants to leave it, functioning, to one of his sons. In the meantime he "struggles" (as he puts it) with a Ruger Red Label and a SxS 12 ga. muzzleloader. :rolleyes:

Jeff
 
I recently bought one that had also been trimmed. It had a very old Pachy on it. I traced the outline of the buttstock on a piece of paper and compared it to the templates on the Limbsaver website. Guess what - one of the Remington 700 pre-fit pads was a PERFECT fit. I just had to drill the correct holes. What a difference!!!
Click to expand...

How thick are those pre-fit pads? I couldn't find any measurements like the ones for the grind-to-fit pads.
 
Old, ugly, worn out,

You are referring to the gun, right? I mean that describes the majority of the members here too.
Click to expand...

I deeply represent that remark. And I have a 30" Full Mod 1897 from the same era with a hard rubber/whatever Winchester curved buttplate. I don't think factory pads weren't used on them back then - could be wrong, was once before... And I don't think it's so old... :neener:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Value of a well-worn early Winchester 1912?
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
Crawdad1
Crawdad1
msmp5
  • Locked
Winchester Model 1912 value?
Replies
5
Views
809
bushmaster1313
B
B
  • Locked
New (to me) Winchester Model 1912
Replies
15
Views
1K
chas08
chas08
W
  • Locked
Stock repair on Win Model 1912?
Replies
3
Views
366
WEllison
W
22lr
  • Locked
Sometimes old is better.
Replies
19
Views
921
vesmcd
V
Back
Top