Winchester 1912 Tournament Grade

[Cold Spring]

Not a fine double but I'll share some pics of a Winchester Model 1912 Tournament Grade pump gun I've been working out with at sporting over the past few weeks. That is, between grouse and some duck hunting. 12-gauge with 32-inch solid rib barrel, Full choke. "Nickel Steel". Man she smokes the clays if I do my part. 104 years old ..... Cody says she was made in November 1917.

[6pt-Sika]

Very nice

[John Bastiani]

Originally Posted by Frank Srebro

Not a fine double but I'll share some pics of a Winchester Model 1912 Tournament Grade pump gun I've been working out with at sporting over the past few weeks. That is, between grouse and some duck hunting. 12-gauge with 32-inch solid rib barrel, Full choke. "Nickel Steel". Man she smokes the clays if I do my part. 104 years old ..... Cody says she was made in November 1917.

Thats a rare gun! Does the gun have its original bluing and finish? Also most of these guns were 30 inch barrels. I collected Winchesters for over 40 years and had several model 12's but hardly ever saw a Tournament grade. The closest model 12 I had to yours was a black diamond(stamped trap) made in 1922 with a 30 inch barrel and 2 pin milled rib. I wished that I would have kept that gun as it was in excellent original condition. Also had a Model 12-20 gauge stamped(standard trap) that was in almost new condition except for some flaking that is almost seen on every early M-12 of the era. It was one of my favorite guns in my collection.

[Ken Hill]

It looks so much better than the black gun (Benelli?) in the rack.

Ken

[Cold Spring]

Just some additional info. John, I've used and collected Model 12's for a long time now and understand this is a rare one especially with 32-inch tube and original buttplate. Yes the stock and metal finishes are original and there are a few spots of typical "flaking" in the bluing that can be seen in the pics. It is stamped TOUR under the buttplate. Operation is nice and crisp with no wear to the locking recess in the receiver and the bolt lifts fully into lock position. I doubt it was fired all that much and so far I've run 400 rounds with zero failures to feed, fire or eject. This Tournament 1912 has the crispest trigger of any M12 I've owned including many Trap Grades ..... no doubt special attention by the Big Red W.

[Researcher]

Great gun. Nice to see such a clean Model 12. In the Winchester catalogs I have, the Tournament Grade (or Gun) is offered only in 12-gauge, and many of the catalog texts only mention a 30-inch barrel.

1916 --

1916 Catalog.jpg

1920 --

1920 Catalog pg 114.jpg

1920 Catalog pg 115.jpg

1925 -- The text here does mention optional barrel lengths for the Tournament Grade --

1925 Catalog pg 42.jpg

1925 Catalog pg 43.jpg

By the July 1931 Winchester catalog the Tournament Grade (or Gun) is gone, replaced by the Standard Trap Grade, and the old Trap Grade became the Special Trap Grade.

[Cold Spring]

Thanks Dave. Dave Riffle in his book (page 17) shows the Tournament Grade standard barrel at 30" and that 26, 28 and 32's were also available. Apparently 32" could be special-ordered earlier than shown in the 1925 catalog cut. My gun is November 1917. Riffle also stated that Tournament stocks were selected from the highest amount of walnut figure available and were hand-checkered and oil finished. I was and am very happy to have found this Model 1912. A natural pointer and she shoots very well.

Trap gun on a sporting clays course? I call then "professors". Hit or miss, very few chippers, and if you miss you'd better figure out why.

[Double Lab]

Wow Frank. You are killing me.... straight stock, solid rib and 32".

I know now where a diamond grade M12 , 16ga. straight grip is for sale locally. No rib and in fair condition. Yours takes the cake. Bravo my friend.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Daryl Corona

Wow Frank. You are killing me.... straight stock, solid rib and 32".

I know now where a diamond grade M12 , 16ga. straight grip is for sale locally. No rib and in fair condition. Yours takes the cake. Bravo my friend.

I picked up a Model 12 16 with a 30” plain full choke barrel a few months ago . But my dexterity with a pump ain’t what it once was .

[Jeff Sweeter]

Looking at the photos and literature I think I may have a Tournament grade also.It has a 30in.barrel with full choke made in 1925. It is in nowhere near the condition of Frank's gun.The stock was cut to 12 3/8 in. so I added an aluminum and plastic spacer and new pad to extend the length to 14 3/8,but bluing looks original but well worn.Would post a picture but not sure how to go about it.