Winchester Model 1912 value?

[msmp5]

Wondering if some of you knowledgeable folks could give me an idea what this gun is worth: Winchester Model 1912, 12 ga shotgun, ser # 66xxx (would indicate 1914 mfg). 30" bbl, full choke. Wood looks really nice, blueing looks great for this old a gun, though the blueing on the receiver seems just slightly more "dull" than the blueing on barrel. Markings on the bbl are "NICKEL STEEL - WINCHESTER - M.1912-12GA. FULL" Here's some pics:

 

[Bill B.]

Winchester M12's are legendary in my area and at one time the price really shot up after they quit making them. Several years ago your M12 with the nickle steel barrel would have went for around $600.00 here. The guns haven't changed but the price has gone down and $400.00 is a much more common price locally. I think you will find the price varies greatly from state to state. Looking at Gun Broker completed auctions will give you a much better average price on your M12.

 

[msmp5]

Is there some significance to that gun having a nickel steel barrel? Would that have been an original barrel for that vintage of Model 1912? (By serial number, it was manufactured in 1914.)

 

[ranger335v]

Md. 12s were treasured by trap and skeet shooters because of their durability and balance. The market value increased for a short time after production stopped. Later guns eventually replaced the 12s on the line so asking prices started dropping, partly due to the scarcity of repair parts (everything wears out eventually) so it's worth what you can get. (Not a lot of help, huh?)

Seems that their greatest appeal today is as a shooter or a collector item. As a shooter it will likely bring little more than a comparible gun of any brand. Collectors are notoriously fickle, any one may pay half or three times more than another.

Suggest you tag a price and advertise it for awhile in some local "freeby" classified adds. If you get no takers, start dropping the price until it does. That's the only way I know to establish a market value in any given region.

 

[Red Label]

Looks to be very nice for the age and what has been said above is pretty much correct. Depends on the area of the country for some reason but 4-6 hundred is about right. The reason the finish is a little off color is because of the nickel. The blue just didn't hold as well on the high nickel guns as it did on the later proof steel guns.

 

[bushmaster1313]

The price is whatever the market will bear.

I think it would be hard to get a hunter to pay more than $400, newer model 12's can be had for less.

The collector might pay $400 or more, but all they care about is condition.
Someone looking for a pre-WW! Model 12 would be very interested in your gun