Guns International #: 100922702
Seller's Inventory #: M17-1005

Category - Winchester Shotguns - Model 12 - Shotguns - American Semi-Auto

Category
Winchester Shotguns - Model 12
Shotguns - American Semi-Auto

1918 Winchester Model 12 Shotgun in 20 Gauge - Original & Beautiful! SOLD

Description:
This Winchester Model 12 in 20 gauge is 99 years old and in beautiful all-original condition.  It is serial number 172254 which makes it's date of manufacture 1918.  This Model 12 has obviously lived a very easy life mostly in storage.  The action is still stiff and tight like it left the factory last week.  It was acquired from the grandson of the man who purchased it new and rarely even handled it, then left it in his will to his grandson who had kept it for the last 30 years wrapped up in a closet.  This Winchester Model 12 has all of the early features that were later changed like the longer wrist, early style forearm, 25 inch barrel, early-style shell lifter, and flat-topped front bead.  The finish on this gun is beautiful overall.  It is that unmistakable factory Winchester gloss blue finish over perfectly polished metal.  It shows some very minor wear on the mag tube and action bar, some light marring to the bottom right of the ejection port, and some light flaking on the left side of the receiver.  While it is not perfect it is very attractive with a lot of eye appeal, and incredibly good for a shotgun just shy of 100 years old.  The bore in the original 25 inch plain barrel that is choked "Full" is pristine.  It is mirror bright with zero pitting, dents, or bulges.  This was the only length offered by Winchester at this time in a 20 gauge gun, and it was chambered for the 2&9/16ths inch shells being made at that time.  The factory original American Walnut stock set is also very attractive and in good condition overall.  Both pieces are solid except for one small crack forming on the right side of the wrist.  You can see this in the close up picture of this area.  This is very common on these early production Model 12's with the thinner/longer wrists, and the primary reason that Winchester went to a shorter and thicker wrist later in production.  Both the forearm and buttstock retain 96%+ of the original factory varnish, and only under very close inspection show some very small handling/storage marks.  The factory original checkered black plastic buttplate with the Winchester logo is in excellent condition, and shows no wear, cracks, or chips.  It was fit perfectly at the factory, and is still nice and tight to the stock.  The length of pull is 13.5 inches to the end of the plate, which is the factory correct length.  Everything works on this shotgun 100% like the day it left the factory in 1918.  This is a real beauty of an early production Winchester Model 12 in 20 gauge, and would be an excellent investment piece to add to any shotgun or Winchester collection.  Reduced!         

SOLD

Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: Model 1912
Serial Number: 172254
Bore: Minty
Barrels: 25 Inches
Gauge Info: 20 Gauge
Manufacture Date: 1918
Chokes: Full Choke