not

Do not worry about messing it up, Model 12s are nearly indestructible.

I like to use ATF or CLP to clean up old guns and neither one will harm the metals finish.

You should not do anything to the wood other than wiping it down Pledge or Bruce wood polish.

Jackson Armory is one of the few places that buys old guns but they just look them up on Gun Broker to see what they are worth.

I collect Model 12s and if yours was for sale I would offer $800 and negotiate from there. I do not believe that yours is any particular Hi-Grade model and it should be considered a really nice shooter. The Hi-Grade Model 12s can bring 1000s.

Someone mentioned that they thought yours was a duck gun and I am assuming that they meant to say "Heavy Duck Gun" but your is not one of those; they all had 3" chambers and a special Full choke, Edit: along with really crappy wood.

I took some better pics in hopes of getting some more info. I cleaned the metal with some CLP but didn't have anything for the wood so didn't clean it. I was amazed how just how clean it already was!

More pics. I removed the pic between the 3rd and 4th one here as it had the serial number on it.

And a few more. Thanks!

Congrats on a FABULOUS model 12. Love it!

+1 on Jackson Arms for appraisal

I will stick by my $800-$1,000 because the condition seems really nice, Does the bolt "drop" when you close the action? Everything tight?

If it is a "special run/model" might be worth more. Many model 12's have a Cutts Compensator on them, this was the first "changeable" choke system. The full choke may distract a little value to some for a shooter.

It is a beauty

Thanks y'all!
Buzzsaw, everything is tight. Not sure what you mean by "does the bolt drop" though.

Closest ones I've been able to find as far as:
30" bbl
factory vent rib
full choke
checkered slide & buttstock:
http://archives.collectorsfirearms.com/?...p;product=w4821
This one doesn't have pistol grip like mine but close other than that, including same butt pad:
http://archives.collectorsfirearms.com/?...p;product=w2637
They both sold for $1,295 & I feel mine is is better condition than these.
I found one really similar but a slight bit better condition than mine that sold for $1,750. I'm thinking it's value would land between those 3 @ ~$1,500.

Info from shotguncollectors.com blog re: Model 12 recoil pad:

I have one of 1931 vintage (according to the current Winchester website) that has a Weaver compensator and interchangeable choke tubes. I do not recall who I consulted---maybe a couple of decades ago, but I was led to believe that there were a number of different compensators put on Model 12s at the factory. And maybe so. I had been led to believe also that this gun was made in 1935, but that appears to have been an error. Also, I had never paid attention to what is stamped on the barrel, which is "FULL" right underneath "12 GA." I'd have to say that it appears that mine had the compensator added sometime after 1933, because that is when Weaver moved operations to El Paso, and "EL PASO TEX. U.S.A" is stamped right on the compensator.

That's a very nice shotgun, LFD. Yours appears to be very collectible, but mine is not. However, mine came to me by way of my grandfather when he passed in '93, and he bought it from his much older brother-in-law (who died in a car accident in the middle 60s) was like a father to him back in the late 50s or early 60s. I'm sure you value yours for the same reason I value mine. It's an heirloom!

Look at NP's post, go to Shotgun World and the internet on the model 12. a heavily used one can develop a dropping bolt upon closing, yours looks like it has not seen much use.


are you going to sell it?

Thanks. Mine's not a duck gun, though. I've found several on collector websites (for sale & in discussion) that have the exact same butt pad as mine & state it is factory. These people appear to be 'experts' on the Model 12 so I feel confident they're correct. My g'pa that bought this gun new wasn't a hunter. He went pheasant hunting w/this gun the day after he bought it in Nebraska & that was the only time he took it out or shot it. He was not one to customize anything so I'm sure he didn't alter it in any way. He kept it in a wool gun 'sock' inside a leather case in the back of his closet. He had it from about 1953 until about 1981, when my uncle took it to his recently acquired farm. My uncle was not a hunter either & I never saw him use this gun & he wouldn't allow me to shoot it. It was in the same wool gun 'sock' & leather case in his closet until he passed. I acquired it about 10 years ago & it's been in my safe since. Seeing as neither of them hunted, weren't into guns really & never let me 'mess around' with it the only conclusion I find viable is it is 100% factory. Most older guns you don't/won't know much of their history but I feel I know this one very well.
Looking down the bbl on this gun it looks brand new. It's obvious it's been racked a bit, mostly by me I'm sure, but shot very, very little. My g'pa told me he shot it exactly 2 times. Once to make sure it went bang & once @ a pheasant. I don't know if my uncle shot it but if he did it was not very much @ all. I've shot it zero times. It has a few imperfections here & there but comparing it to online sites that say their gun is 95% then I have to say this one is @ least that. The metal is 98-99% perfect & the wood is ~95% perfect, especially considering it's 65 years old.
I've got the gun out of my safe a few times over the years & contemplated shooting it but just haven't. It has some sentimental value to me but seeing as I never went hunting w/my g'pa, much less w/this gun, it's not a lot. I have great 'memorabilia' of my g'pa in other items that mean much more to me than this gun. Seeing as I've had it for 10+ years & have never shot it, I'm thinking of getting rid of it for something I will actually use. I'm thinking I need a good, modern semi-auto 12 gauge (which I've always wanted but never broke down & bought).
I've done my best to figure out the value of this gun & I honestly put it @ $1,500, comparing it to sold guns that are equivalent. I know there's a lot of Model 12's out there but not many that are in this good of condition, that haven't been refurbished.

The action functions flawlessly & properly. I'm assuming I'd notice it if it dropped while cycling it, correct?

I'm contemplating selling or trading for a modern semi-auto 12 gauge. Not 100% positive, though.

You have a very nice example of what I consider the best pump action shotgun ever made. Winchester stopped production of it due to production costs. Personally I would have trouble selling any of the Family guns, but one that just sat back and not used it could fund one that you really want I guess.

I have no doubt the pad is factory installed, but it is not a Winchester pad - thus the issue for collectors because it can't be proven as factory without an invoice showing it.

Even so, if you were to want to sell it, it seems according to the above it's a simple matter to buy and install a Winchester pad to receive full collector value. I am a pre-64 Model 70 collector and we run into the same issue sometimes.

I did not know that, NP. I'm not a collector, but a Model 70 enthusiast in general. I have one pre-64 Westerner in .264 Win Mag, 1960 vintage. It's a great rifle!

LFD, That's yours to do as you please and I guess I can understand the lack of attachment...but I'll tell you what I'd do: I'd document what I know about the gun, put it to good use over a number of years to give it some history my own self, and pass it down. Nonetheless, if I had something I thought was a suitable swap I'd be on your doorstep in about two shakes.

I'd be more than happy to add my own history and pass it down but I only have one child, a petite girl, and have no nephews to use it. It will always be too big for my daughter and we, sadly, won't be having any more children. If I had someone to pass it down to then there's no doubt I'd do exactly what you said.

You may adopt me if you like.

On your new pics...AHA!, It has a 'mid bead'! Normally that would make it a target model but more research should be done.

Great pics of a great gun! P_102

It's an addiction.

Nothing like the solid "feel" of pre-64 Wins of any stripe. I have not yet had a M70 that wasn't a good shooter either.

Beautiful model 12. I'd love to find a 20 gauge model 12 of that quality.

I have a decent solid rib Black Diamond! Haven't shot it much since it's full choke...shoots pattern of about 2 inches at 30 yards! LOL

Definitely not your quail gun. LOL

It's a trap model. Look at the"beaver tail" piece of rib attached to the receiver.
The pad looks factory but I think it's just a close match. Look up and double check the LOP it may have been cut down to fit someone.
Look at the locking recess in the receiver just behind the ejection port, if it's a low round count gun the edge will be square, straight, not feel sharp. Bluing should be only slightly worn off.
HTH