Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester Shotguns

Bert H. on Orphan Model 25 "ruined" by Deluxe Polychoke. Really?

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 23:07:28 +0000

I am more inclined to buy an older Winchester shotgun with a Cutts Compensator on it... it at least has the possibility of being factory original, and it is nicer looking than the lumpier Poly-Choke. Given the option today, I would choose the Briley screw-in choke.

Bert

Zebulon on Orphan Model 25 "ruined" by Deluxe Polychoke. Really?

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 22:58:51 +0000

This issue is something of a pet peeve with me and puts me out of step with the groupthink of the Winchester collecting community. However, it also gives me access to the occasional really sweet bargain.

By that, I don't mean an opportunity to make money on the turn. I don't expect to. What I revel in is having another great classic Winchester shotgun someone used but took loving care of and spent significant extra money on to make it even more useful. For $499 USD.

This Winchester Model 25 came home with me today. Older Members are familiar with and many fondly remember the "workingman's Model 12" -- a reduced price version that saves significant machining and hand-fitting time by eliminating the takedown feature.

The Model 25's barrel was not easily removed for cleaning or travel. It was offered only in 12 gauge with a 28" barrel and the steel was modestly polished before bluing. Other than a choice of fixed chokes, there were no options or different grades.

However, in all other design and mechanical respects, it was identical to the standard field grade all-steel Model 12, including the careful machining and internal hand fitting that model required. The materials were not cheapened.

At roughly a 20% to 25% discount from the price of the field grade Model 12, it was offered from about 1950 to 1954. It was a bargain, frankly, at a $70 to $80 price in the early Fifties. About 87,937 were made during its brief production life.

The supposed fatal flaw in serial # 57,709, originally a full-choked gun, is an owner committed an unpardonable Deadly Sin . Realizing that a single barrel shotgun with a full choke was not ideal for a lot of hunting, he dug fairly deep into his Coverall pockets and in 1960, for example, paid $27.75 USD to have Polychoke cut his barrel to his desired length and install the company's Deluxe vented Polychoke, which included a new front sight. This was a standard fixed price nationwide. (Otherwise, the gun is completely original down to its cheap plastic Winchester logo buttplate and a little bit of old red enamel in the safety button groove.)

If that sounds like a bargain, $27.75 in 1960 Dollars is $314.00 in 2026 Dollars. Which is actually a bargain price for this not-so-simple job at reasonable shop rates for a machinist up to the work. The skill required is in keeping the shot pattern going where the gun looks. Some adjustable chokes are badly installed and shoot almost around corners.

I intend to pattern this one tomorrow. A final note, the overall barrel length with Poly is between 25" and 26". The 'smith knew what he was doing. The balance is between the hands with just enough weight forwsrd to help the swing.

Jeremy P on Model 59 Barrel

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:22:02 +0000

Also Homestead, Old Idaho, and Numrich. Be sure to have them inspect any they have for fiberglass delamination at the muzzle. They don't always take actual pictures for their sites. Should look tight and even like my photo below.

Zebulon on Model 59 Barrel

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:27:46 +0000

The major parts houses are your best bet. Go to http://www.Winchesterguns.com and look at the parts and service tab for obsolete guns. There's a list of them. You can try eBay and Gunbroker it but the parts houses will likely be cheaper.

_Newfie on Model 59 Barrel

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:07:44 +0000

I’m have a 12 gauge model 59 shotgun with a versa lite interchangeable choke system. The barrel was damaged when I was younger hunting moose and shooting slugs.

I started restoring the gun and I’m looking for a replacement barrel. Bobski from another forum pointed me to this site and said someone could possibly help me out. I know the model 50 barrel could work but I’d love to restore it to original. Does anyone happen to have one or know where I might be able to get my hands on one?

Thanks

Roger Adam on 1897 Slide Action Bar Length

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 04:18:00 +0000

Corey, I just sent you a PM if its still available.

Roger Adam

James Eichas on Winchester 1200 RIOT NHPD trade in guns.. Collectible?

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 21:01:12 +0000

Hello All, I have one of these as marked shotguns also. My gun is stamped "NHPD 36" and is serial number #171294. It has a 2 and 3/4" chamber and "jeweled bolt". Has barrel marked "RIOT" and is 18" long. Has barrel marking like #1 in above pics. My gun has a different forearm checkering pattern than ones shown , and quite possibly also at the pistol grip(mine has 3 diamonds) within checkering. Purchased in March 2006 at the Rochester NY gunshow from a local area dealer(Rochester/Buffalo) who "cherry picked" a few of these shotguns from another dealer from PA. I was also remembering something about a "New Haven PD" trade-in that resulted in these surplused guns, as told to me at time of my purchase, by seller. Gun remains in very good overall condition, with a "rack-wear" mark on top of receiver, and a few wood stock dents/abrasions. I never fired gun, but it was loaned to my nephew at deer hunting seaon a few years back for use, yet no game seen nor taken. Back into the gun cabinet it went................Jim Eichas mr97

Corey Freeman on 1897 Slide Action Bar Length

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 20:24:28 +0000

Yep...

I just found that elsewhere...

Guess I have one up for sale then.

Thanks Bert

Bert H. on 1897 Slide Action Bar Length

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 20:19:00 +0000

Yes, there is a length difference for the slide bars between the Solid Frame and the Take Down guns. You bought an early Type-1 slide bar for a Solid Frame gun.

Bert

Corey Freeman on 1897 Slide Action Bar Length

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 19:57:02 +0000

I recently bought a replacement Slide Action Bar for my vintage 1897.

I installed the part and the gun would not cycle properly. After exhausting all of the reasons why it could be doing this, I finally compared the old to the new.

The old one, on the bottom, is much long than the replacement.

Was there a length between the solid frame and the takedown? I don't know why there would be, but stranger things have happened.

cj57 on Winchester 1897 Correcting

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:10:53 +0000

Nice job! looks much better

Corey Freeman on Winchester 1897 Correcting

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 21:40:09 +0000

I bought a fairly old (1899) (S/N C 82444) Winchester 1897. It was painfully obvious from the first pic that the previous owner had no clue. That ugly slide handle was screwed on, with non-appropriate screws, and glued to the the slide bar. When I got it off, the screw holes were all fouled up. I got them welded shut, drilled, and re-tapped the holes.

To say it was an education would be an understatement. The new handle is a reproduction, but at least it's period correct. I'll keep looking for an original, but I don't want to have to make a car payment to get it.

The second pic is the new handle installed. I still have to take it for a test drive before I try to antique the finish and locktite the screws.

TXGunNut on A&F Model 21 orphaned barrel, case and tag

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 21:24:49 +0000

Any luck? I was just wondering if someone requested a letter or simply an inquiry. I wasn't aware they kept a history of either.

Mike

James W on Winchester model 50 buttplate

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:04:21 +0000

I bought a Winchester buttplate at a gun show last week. Don't know what it is for, though.

winchester nix on Winchester 1200 RIOT NHPD trade in guns.. Collectible?

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 10:57:17 +0000

Hello BigGuy72.

I have concluded that for some reason Winchester made three batches of non standard Model 1200 RIOT Guns, and that you have an example of them, as set out in my letter to BigGuy72 care of 'B Faver', attached. I had to make each page a Jpeg so please find "B. Faver - Model 1200 RIOT# 329286, # 324334 & # 326380 15 Aug 2026 conv 0" to "B. Faver - Model 1200 RIOT# 329286, # 324334 & # 326380 15 Aug 2026 conv 3". You can enlarge them to suit. I just noticed that the letter is dated 12th August - the day after I started it, but you can see I finished it on 15th August 2026.

If you have any queries, please ask. You can see that in my Model 1200 Database I have almost one record of a Model 1200 in every serial number, and sometimes more, but there are a lot of blank spaces I am trying to fill.

Sincerely

Keith