Should I Buy/Need info: Winchester Model 12

[Corpral_Agarn]

Hey THR!

I have a question about a Winchester Model 12 that I have the opportunity to buy but before I do so, I wanted to get the collective wisdom of THR.

The shotgun looks like it is in pretty good shape. I am kicking myself for not taking a photo of it when I had in my hand.

It is a 12 Guage with a 30" barrel and first 5 of the 7 digit serial number is 18919xx.

He is asking $425 but I wanted to get a rough estimate on the value of the gun.

I have NO experience with the model 12. I know it is a classic and most were pretty well made, but I have been running 870's since I was 12.

Any advice or opinion I can get is welcome.

Thanks for reading!

 

[jaguarxk120]

Condition is everything on any gun. The bluing, how is it? The condition of stocks dents dings or sctarches? Finish how worn is it?

The mistique of the Mosdel 12 --- some people think a clapped out gun is worth a ton of money when actually it is only worth less than $200 trade in if the dealer is willing to take it.

 

[jaguarxk120]

duplicate post

 

[gunut]

field grade, trap grade, skeet grade....rib or round barrel....

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

The Condition of the gun seems pretty darn good.

I looked page 20 of http://www.winchesterguns.com/suppo...e-Dates-by-Year----2012-Scanned-Documents.pdf

And best I can tell, it was made in 1918??? Am I reading that right??

It does not have a rib on the Barrel. I will take photos when I see it again tonight.

 

[rule303]

If I remember right, a 1.8M serial number would put it toward the end of standard model 12 production in the early 60's. I have no idea what CA prices are like, but around here $425 would be a fair price in excellent condition, down to somewhere around half of that if it has significant wear or if a recoil pad has been added. The model 12 is a fantastic gun, but a 30" plain barreled, full choke 12ga is probably the least valuable configuration, and has limited usefulness with todays ammo.

 

[Virginian]

Seems high to me. Be advised that a lot of 870 fans find when they shoot it that a Model 12 does not feel and handle like an 870, and they like an 870. Also, a lot of people ooooh and aaaah over the machined and hand fitted parts in Model 12s (and Model 37s) and find to their dismay when something does go wrong that they need a real gunsmith to get it right again.
I am not a Model 12 fan. I had a friend who collected them and he had about 6 different Magnum Duck Gun versions that he used for duck and goose hunting. Admittedly they were used when he got them, but they were in excellent condition, and he spent more on gunsmiths than I did on guns. I shot them, and they were nice, but the bug never bit me at all. If you get one and you do like it, you have a lot of company.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Thanks for Replies, All

So I checked the Winchester Serial Number again, and I WAS reading it wrong.

This one has a 7 digit number starting with 18 which means that it was made in the early 60's.

Thanks for the replies, All!

 

[sugerwater]

I have two. A nice ribbed barrel 1951, and a 1949 30" (cut down to 26")kind of used but nice. Quality take-down 12ga. is always nice to have. Won't lose value.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Is it a plain jane with the corncob forend? I love that configuration. It is the one they made the most of probably but they seem difficult to find.

Apparently Hemingway felt that he had wore one plum out and bought a new one to replace it. Holy smokes!!! Thing was, that wore out one still shot and someone else ended up with it for a bargain.....and then sold it and it was lost.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Sorry for the long time before reply here.

It sold while I was thinking about it... Ah well!

 

[MEHavey]

"...corncob forend...."

You mean Cutts Compensator?

BTW: If you can find a decent shape Mod-12 w/ a solid rib and a Cutts,
it is the most natural pointing/easiest handling of any shotgun I know of.**
(and by definition... the smoothest/fastest of all pump actions.)

One Watch-Out-For: feel inside the top of the receiver where the bolt locks into the recess w/ your fingertip.
It should be smooth, with no peened-over edges.

** Including:
Model-12s (2)
Ithaca-37s (2)
Rem 870s (2)
Charles Daly O/U (1)
Valmet Lion O/U) (1) (I'll admit, that little Lion comes closest)

.

 

[basinman]

My father gave me his 28" round barrel model 12 that he received from his father as a wedding present. I grew up shooting this gun and loved it. I reloaded my own shells and it never gave me any problems at all. It took all kinds of game.

 

[morcey2]

"...corncob forend...."

You mean Cutts Compensator?

BTW: If you can find a decent shape Mod-12 w/ a solid rib and a Cutts,
it is the most natural pointing/easiest handling of any shotgun I know of.**
(and by definition... the smoothest/fastest of all pump actions.)

One Watch-Out-For: feel inside the top of the receiver where the bolt locks into the recess w/ your fingertip.
It should be smooth, with no peened-over edges.

** Including:
Model-12s (2)
Ithaca-37s (2)
Rem 870s (2)
Charles Daly O/U (1)
Valmet Lion O/U) (1) (I'll admit, that little Lion comes closest)

.

Corncob forend:

Matt

 

[MEHavey]

Got it.

FWIW, I've still got the [separate] corncob forend for my grandfather's 1928 Model-12, but my father replaced it with the trap style back in the early 50s.



Frankly, I've kept that trap forend as my preference since getting it 45 years ago.


.

 

[Captcurt]

Plenty on the market now.

Model 12's were highly sought after a few years back but seem to have lost their luster. You can find a pretty nice one for $450 if you look a while. Many have been butchered with the Cutts Compensator and the Polychoke. Those can be had for a song.