Value of a well-worn early Winchester 1912?

[ABTOMAT]

Have this old girl I'm trying to work a local sale on. Anyone have an idea of value? First-year (1914) 12ga Winchester 1912, 30" bbl, normal takedown, plain grade. Very little original finish remaining, no rust to speak of, wood in good condition considering. Gun now has a new vintage butt pad. She's well-worn but still functional. It's been various people's duck guns for 100 years.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I'd expect in this market about $400-500 dollars.

The M12 Winchester shotgun isn't made anymore, and they are very nice, but they are pretty common at many of the gun shops I frequent in this area. I think around here one would do no better than the above price for your particular gun. Still not bad, these are some of the greatest pump guns ever made and I'm glad to own a 20" riot gun variant myself.

 

[oneounceload]

First year MIGHT add something but the above values are close to pushing the max at least here in FL

 

[243winxb]

A 1928 M12 in 28" just sold at auction for $230 http://www.horstauction.com/guns.html If your not in a hurry to sell, $300 to $400. IMO. The M97 may bring more than a 12, Cowboys action shooting?

 

[ABTOMAT]

I'm told the old ones aren't good for plastic shotshells and/or steel shot. Is that correct?

 

[243winxb]

Full choke = no steel

 

[Crawdad1]

They work just fine with plastic shot shells.

 

[ABTOMAT]

I read once that the first few years had a short/narrow forcing cone that choked on plastic.

 

[243winxb]

Chamber Length

Careful inspection by a gunsmith is always recommended to determine whether or not it is safe to fire a modern 2¾-inch shotgun shell in older Model 12's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Model_1912

 

[mosteve]

I have one that was handed down from my father, literally it has shot thousands of both paper and plastic shells with no problems, but, NO steel! these are full choked duck and goose guns, steel doesn't compress like lead, you could split a barrel or worse! Here near K.C. they sell for 4 to 5 hundred in that condition.

 

[rule303]

In that condition with a bad aftermarket recoil pad, it would sit for a long time at $300 around here.

 

[RainDodger]

Agree with rule303. Maybe somebody would look at it for $250 in my opinion, as a project or parts? Then again, I'm in a bad mood this morning, so that might be kind of biased towards my mood.

I bet I saw 20 Model 12's at the last big gun show in my area and fairly nice ones were in the $400 range. I have a pristine 1954 Model 12 and it probably wouldn't get $500 around here.

 

[ABTOMAT]

That's an old photo. It has a new period-correct recoil pad.

I'm surprised at the $400-500 estimates. I would have thought around $300, but I don't know the M12 market very well.

 

[eastbank]

this winchester model 12 with a 30" full choke barrel went for 270.00 at a gun auction and is in my gun room right now. a model 12 with full choke 30" barrel with recoil pad added and in that condition would go here for 200-250 at best. eastbank.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Yeah my early estimation might have been a little high, I think $400 will get you a very good condition M12 around these parts.

 

[Hillbilly4]

My local gunshop in PA. Has two for sale. One with a cutts compensator. Asking $350.

 

[1MoreFord]

I don't know what they're worth currently. The prices on them have roller coastered many times over the years. My uncle turned down $500+ several times for one in similar condition back when $500 was real money.

The story I heard about that one's acquisition was that my Grandfather went into town one Saturday and bought a new M97 for $12.50 shortly after the M12's came out. After thinking on it for most of the following week he took the M97 back to the hardware store and traded it back in on the M12 because he felt a hammerless shotgun would be safer in the house with all the kids. The owner gave him all his money back and he kicked in an additional $5.00 to get the M12.

 

[alexander45]

I see them go for a bit over 300 around here in phoenix

 

[eastbank]

i got this winchester 12ga model 12 made in 1929 with stock cut and recoil pad added with major finish loss ,but it works as it should. for about 200.00 in a trade deal with several other guns. to bring any money around here they have to be in just about mint to new or in 28ga. i do hunt with the ones i own,but i prefer a lighter shotgun for the long hunts. eastbank.

 

[Steve C]

The rules requiring steel or non toxic shot has ruined the value of the older shotguns with barrels and chokes that can't hold up to steel shot. It would still be a great pheasant gun on the great plains and for conversion to a trap gun where lead shot can be used and shots can be quite long. Probably the reason the value was estimated higher in the KC area.

 

[ABTOMAT]

It's a full choke. Would it be worth getting the barrel cut back or should I just get an 870?

 

[LeonCarr]

Get an 870. If you can get an 870 and keep that beautiful Model 12, do that.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Onmilo]

It's a full choke. Would it be worth getting the barrel cut back or should I just get an 870?

Cut that barrel and a $300-$400 shotgun becomes a $150-$175 shotgun.

 

[ABTOMAT]

Guess that settles it. Thanks to everyone for the input. Now I'm wishing I'd jumped on an 870 Police Magnum someone had for ~$250 a while back.

 

[ABTOMAT]

So I went to take pictures to post it up on a local site, and I'm thinking I just might hang onto it even if I can't think of a use for it. This was actually the first gun I ever owned and it's been passed down through a few generations of old town characters.

What can do you with a 30" full choke shotgun that can't shoot steel? Turkey? Really careful trap shooting?