Make: Winchester

Model: 12

Serial Number: 1243542

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1950, 49 barrel date.

Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4" Shells

Action Type: Pump / Slide Action, Tube Magazine Fed Takedown Shotgun

Barrel Length: The barrel has been cut to 20 3/4".

Choke: Fixed Cylinder Bore

Sights / Optics: A large brass bead has been installed at the muzzle. The top of the receiver has a sighting plane, serrated for glare reduction.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two-piece walnut with a grooved, flat-bottom slide handle, pistol grip, straight comb and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The stocks have handling wear in the grip areas with some light nicks and small scratches. There is a more notable ding in the bottom-front of the grip. There is some thinnning finish at the toe. The LOP measures 14" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered light wear with generally well defined checkering and lettering. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. There is very faint erosion at the muzzle end where the cut and bead were dressed. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. There is wear from diassembly/reassembly on the magazine tube and the left-front edge of the receiver. There is infrequent faint oxidation. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good condition as customized.

Mechanics: The actions function correctly. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Model 1912 (shortened to Model 12 in 1919) was the next step from the Winchester Model 1897 hammer-fired shotgun, which in turn had evolved from the earlier Winchester Model 1893 shotgun. The Model 12 was designed by Winchester engineer T.C. Johnson and was based in part on the M1893/97 design by John M. Browning, in that it used a sliding forearm or “pump action” to cycle the mechanism. With forged and machined steel parts, the ultimate reason for the discontinuation of the Model 12 in 1964 was that it was simply too expensive to produce at a competitive price. The primary competition at this time came from the much less expensive Remington Model 870, which had been introduced in 1950. This Model 12 is a 12 gauge made ca. 1950. Its barrel has been cut back to 20 3/4", now in a Riot-style configuration. It has a good bore, strong mechanics, and much of its original metal finish. This would make a neat addition to a Winchester or shotgun collection and should prove to be a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!