When you get into buying used Model 12's, you need to know more then nothing about Model 12"s.
Some of the prettiest ones out there are old Trap or Skeet guns that have had half a gazillion shells shot through them.
The locking bolt notch in the receiver is peened, the takedpown adjustment & headspace ring is all used up, and it costs 2x more then the gun is worth to have it correctly repaired.
If you find an old field grade hunting gun with some bluing wear around the receiver from carrying it?
But it looks like it was rode hard and put away wet in the bluing & wood department?
It probably was.
But it probably wasn't shot enough to break it in good.
It is also probably a much better gun then a nice shiny old trap gun that was well care for but completely wore out from shooting from dawn to dusk, and then under lights, every weekend for 30+ years.
An old hunters or farmers Model 12 isn't wore out.
It just looks like it is.
And old clay games gun is wore out.
I just doesn't look like it is.
rc