Winchester Model 12 Value

[Japedo]

A couple months ago my grandmother gave me a Winchester Model 12 that had belonged to my grandfather. This thing looks to be in amazing condition, the blueing is almost flawless, the stock has a few scuffs, a minor scratch that isist deep at all. I took it to a gunsmith to see if everything was in order, and he offered to buy it from me. I don't know that much about these, on gunbroker.com they are any where from a couple hundred to well over a thousand.

The only markings it has is Winchester-Model-12-2 3/4 serial number is 1907xxx. Barrel is approx 28" long. Any info would be helpfull (approx manufacture date etc.)

Thanks

Here is some pics

[-hanko]

Ending sn for 1960 was 1,800,000, 1961 production ended at 1,930,999. Yours was made in 1961.

I'd have a hard time myself selling my g'father's shotgun, ymmv.

If I were looking for a number for insurance or to set a selling price, I'd definitely find someone qualified in Winchesters. With a 28" barrel, it's probably choked full or modified. The gun looks beautiful

-hanko

[Japedo]

Thank you for the prodution info, I was'nt looking to sell the shotgun, after I was offered a deal, I thought I would do some research to see if it was fair. Usually I go to gunbroker and you can get a general ball park, but the prices on these were all over the place. Thanks

[randy]

Model 12's have a cult following. You live in AV so take it to Oaktree and have Shawn tell you what it is worth Shawn deals with those all the time and will know what it is worth or if there is anybody willing to pay what it is worth.

Good luck

[xenophobe]

Hard to tell with those pictures... Is that a Winchester marked butt pad? Well, it should have a plastic butt, and I can't see the end of the barrel... is it compensated?

Without seeing the finish in more detail and color, a close up of the stock pad joint, and without knowing what choke the gun has, it's nearly impossible to accurately price.

Between $375-$700, though I assume the stock has been cut... could you measure LOP? Full choke will detract from the value, as well as the stock being cut. If there is a cutts compensator or similar, that'll knock half the value alone...

Refinished, cut stock, full choke, maybe $250-$275.
Original 98%+ finish, cut stock, full choke, maybe $450-$500.
Original 98%+ finish, uncut stock, mod choke, $600+.

Really hard to price gun without seeing it in person.

Oh, and if anything has been done to it, like the stock cut for even a Winchester pad, most collectors won't touch it and it'll be a hard sell. Especially for a later model. Prewar, ribbed, non-full choke, uncut guns in minty condition command a premium.

[Japedo]

I got a few more pics. I don't know enough about shotguns to know the difference between a full and mod choke, however on the barrel under the Winchester Model 12 markings it says MOD. Possible mod choke???

The length of the shotgun is a little over 47", the length of the stock with butt pad is about 13"-14" depending on where you measure it from.

I have never heard of Oaktree, if you have a number or an address PM me thanks.

There are no markings on the stock, the butt pad on the back, it was real hard to see, but it has the following markings

TRADE WHITE LINE MARK
PACHMAYR GUN WORKS
LOS ANGELES 15,CALIFORNIA USA

[patman]

Japedo,

From the pictures, the Moddel 12 looks like new. Since this is California, Xeno's prices are low for what I've seen. I had a chance to handle one a few months ago out of curiosity of what it was. The finish/blue was pretty much gone but the steel felt SOLID. The action as very smooth. A brand new 870 express feels cheap in comparison. The kicker? I try not to do any impulse buying (I was just looking while a friend was picking something up) so here I am while checking it out, another customer asks me if I was going to buy it.

I say no and he says "thank you. I'm going to buy it then, $400 is a good price."

I think you have gotten a pretty good gift from your grandparents!

Original 98%+ finish, cut stock, full choke, maybe $450-$500.

Thank you for the prodution info, I was'nt looking to sell the shotgun, after I was offered a deal, I thought I would do some research to see if it was fair. Usually I go to gunbroker and you can get a general ball park, but the prices on these were all over the place. Thanks

[xenophobe]

I'd rather give a low estimate and bring it up when I get more information than a high estimate and bring it down. I've been in the industry long enough to know better than that.

Patman, my prices are low because Model 12's just sit on the shelves... I know, working at SJGE for 6+ years, we had a number of Model 12s in various conditions and states of modification for between $275-$550, and guess what? They just sat there and sat there and sat there. Also, that's not a duck gun, nor is it ribbed, nor does it have fancy wood. It's also a post war Model 12. All of the features with the exception of the metal condition (which is really unknown at this point, and the choke) that make a Model 12 really desirable are not really there.

For 'collectors'... if it's been refinished, had the stock cut, or a compensator installed, or is full choke, it's just a nice shooter with no significant collectible value. The three most common things that are done to a Model 12 are, stock cut, compensator installed, and refinish... Any one of those is enough to drive a collector away from a post war Winchester.


Japedo, can you rack the slide forward and show me the slide rails and the tube near the bottom of the receiver... in natural light? Look for marks, scratches or pitting that is underneath the bluing.

The MOD designates Modified Choke... This makes it MUCH more desirable than a full choke gun. The barrel hasn't been cut, and that makes it more desirable.

The stock has been cut and an aftermarket pad has been put on. Common practice, but this will keep serious buyers from paying top dollar.

If the finish is in 98% unrefinished, you're probably looking at a $500-$550 for that shotgun. Perhaps you may be able to find a buyer that will pay $600ish, but you might have to sit on it a while... But then again, you need to find someone willing to pay for it.

[patman]

Xenophobe
No dissension from me about your posting, you have 6+ more years compared to my zero time working in the industry. In particular, I've picked up some good bits of information from you!

Did I mention some envy of Japedo's Model 12.

I'd rather give a low estimate and bring it up when I get more information than a high estimate and bring it down. I've been in the industry long enough to know better than that.

Patman, my prices are low because Model 12's just sit on the shelves... I know, working at SJGE for 6+ years, we had a number of Model 12s in various conditions and states of modification for between $275-$550, and guess what? They just sat there and sat there and sat there.

[xenophobe]

Xenophobe
No dissension from me about your posting, you have 6+ more years compared to my zero time working in the industry. In particular, I've picked up some good bits of information from you!

Did I mention some envy of Japedo's Model 12.

Well, I did want to state my reasoning why I gave the values that I did.

Yes, it's a very nice looking Model 12. Since it was his grandfather's, I would definitely keep it.

Unmodified Model 12s are very desirable, but there's quite a bit of variable in determining prices on them. Even really nice ones with stocks cut for pads or cutt's compensated models book at much higher prices than they actually sell for.

[Japedo]

Just to reinterate, this is not for sale. After I did a little research on prices, I saw they were all over the place, it got me curious if I had some kind of rare gem, or a plane jane shooter. Thanks for all the info, now I can see why the prices are fluctuated.

Here's some more pics

[xenophobe]

Yeah, that looks original. Though it's really impossible to tell... by picture... if it is I'd say a solid $550 shotgun. I'd insure it for $750 for replacement value.

[Sal]

I was wondering about this too, i picked up a 18-20" one with the cutts compensator on it awhile ago, great blueing and shoots great but i was wondering what they are worth. They seem to be all over the place.

[xenophobe]

I was wondering about this too, i picked up a 18-20" one with the cutts compensator on it awhile ago, great blueing and shoots great but i was wondering what they are worth. They seem to be all over the place.

$275-$375... Maybe $50 more if the stock has the original plastic butt. The Cutts compensator can cut the value of the shotgun in half, unfortunately.

[Sal]

thats fine, its still a great gun!