Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
August 25, 2006
Offline
Hello, Folks,
I recently picked up an interesting 1930-vintage Model 12. It’s a 12-ga and looks as if it was made up for trap shooting, although it is not marked as a trap gun.
It all looks original (including the hard-rubber Winchester buttplate) and I believe a number of features were factory upgrades, but I’m not sure. Couple of images below.
- 14-1/2″ pull
- checkered buttstock has a straight English grip
- the full choke barrel is a 32″ long
- Full-length solid rib
My apologies if this question has been covered before. Would a Cody letter provide detailed information on the configuration of this gun when it left the factory?
TIA,
Tom
Tom,
The records at Cody for the Model 12 do not have the information you seek. The only records the CFM has are the Polishing Room serialization records (referred to as “SNA”).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
August 25, 2006
Offline
Got it, Bert — thanks. That will save me some money & trouble.
You might want to remove the butt plate and see if the wood is marked or stamped “TOURNAMENT” or an abbreviation of that. 1929 was the last year advertised for the Tournament Grade. The checking seems to be of that grade as does the slide handle design. Stunning example congratulations! RDB
August 25, 2006
Offline
Thanks, Roger,
Alas – there’s nothing stamped into the wood under the buttplate.
I did read that the forearms on the Tournament Grade guns were shorter than on other Model 12s. I don’t have another Model 12 to compare, but the forearm on mine (from the outside of the metal ferrules) measures 7-1/8″.
Also, my barrel is marked “Winchester Proof Steel” (not “Nickel Steel”).
The bore is pristine and the checkering is in nice shape — I don’t think this one was fired much.
The wood doesn’t look to me like premium wood.
OK, so here’s a question. Suppose it was 1930 and I wanted a Tournament Grade Model 12, only to learn that they were no longer available. Could I have ordered a Model 12 from Winchester with options that would have effectively made it a Tournament Grade wannabe? If yes, then I guess I could have added a few customized touches, such as a longer pull dimension and a 32″ barrel with a solid rib.
What do you think?
BTW, I shot a round of trap with it last night. It was cold here, and windy, but I got a feeling that this gun was happy to be back on the trap field again 🙂
Thanks again,
Tom
What is the serial number of your gun? My serial number is 569841 and it does have the “NICKEL STEEL” marking. I can’t say what Winchester would do. I am probably the most gullible Winchester collector in existence. I have 92s and 94s that I believed were sent back to the factory for refinish and re-barrel in the 1930s, only to be told that there was no way to prove Winchester did the work and they were just ‘re-done’ guns of little value. Hopefully someone in the know will step up and add some help. I can’t even prove my ‘Tournament’ gun is legitimate. It has the vent rib, but a replaced pad. According to the 1928 Catalog the vent rib came with the rubber pad as standard. I have shot this gun a lot and it deserves a better shooter than what I am. I have managed to get several 25s, but am not consistent enough to be classified a good shooter. Trap shooting has become an addiction I enjoy. RDB
August 25, 2006
Offline
611986
If it makes you feel any better, I’m 71 and the closest I have ever gotten to shooting a 25 at trap was a 24 I shot last August (with my Model 1897 Trap Gun).
Maybe this “new” Model 12 will help get me there?
Tom
That serial number puts the gun right at the change of 1930. According to the Model 12 book on page 55 this is when the new slide handle became “available”. I would think this meant you could get the smaller slide handle if you wanted it. I’m not a big guy and I prefer the smaller round slide handle for myself. My trap shooting started about 7 years ago and I am now 75. Improvement for me seems slower than that of the younger guys who seem to shoot two to three times more than I do. Practice seems to be very important, imagine that. Anyway, thanks for sharing and enjoy that beautiful Model 12. RDB
1 Guest(s)
