There was a nice looking 30" round-post vent rib HD on GI last year, as I recall it was listed for something like $2250. The rib was proper. I don't remember if it had a checkered stock or not, but it languished there for a while and finally went away. Nevertheless they are quite rare and one data point doesn't mean much. With 85% condition and the replacement pad it's not quite a high condition collector gun, and many prefer a solid rib for vintage waterfowl hunting. You'll want to be sure the wood is proper Winchester and not replacements. Sorry I can't come up with a realistic high/low sale value without seeing pics and verifying the tech specs. Just a WAG, 1000 to 1800 or so, again depending on condition and originality.

Dave Riffle has a picture of the "Round Post Donut Base" rib on a 3-inch Heavy Duck gun on page 239 of his book.

Heavy duck
 

So-ooooooo what are your opinions on this???
Have a 1940 HD 32 IN. Plain barrel .032 choke all original, Has seen plenty of use.

I Have seen these peoples work and it looks damn good to me. They guarantee the gun to shoot 60x40 stacking the beads. I am giving this option a lot of thought. I Have always liked the looks of the Donut Post Rib. At my age the money here is not the issue. Maybe just one good day on the River working on long range pigeons (Heavy loads) is the issue. Or possibly a fast passing Duck. What say you???

Click on this link (((Click on Home))) to see Ribs
http://www.eubanksgunsmithing.com/gunsmithing.html

David,
Roger Eubanks put a rib on a Model 12 field grade for me in about 1989. I put trap wood on it and have shot thousands of trap targets with it (including a 97 at the CA STATE Trap Handicap in 1990). Roger's work is excellent. Fred

While studying and quietly collecting good Model 12's over many years I've seen plenty of M-12's with aftermarket ribs whether Simmons or others, that languished on the sale sites. Also 60/40 sounds fine for clays but many want hunting guns to shoot flat or nearly so.

In the condition described and without any issues let's say your HD might currently sell for $700-800. If you put $500. + shipping into it for the rib and rebluing, and without additional expense for better or longer wood, you might end up with a gun that's worth about the same $700-800. That's as the market values them nowadays, maybe even less for a quick sale. Plus, you've lost all the memories of past hunts. Of course reworked Model 12's can be excellent guns and I have a couple of them I enjoy shooting, but they aren't collectors and wouldn't sell at even close to the value of originals in similar gauge/configuration. All this is JMO of course.

frank

Question,
Post #1 and #12 are both Pre War but have different forearms. Which one is correct? Or are they both correct?
-Brett

Answer,
I mistakenly thought the first post was referred to as Pre war. I have the same flat bottom forearm on my 1951 32" solid rib gun and felt it wasn't original to my gun.
-Brett

I had a model 12 heavy duck gun with a solid rib. I used it from time to time for geese in Virginia. It was a grand old gun and I wish I still had it. I also had an old 20 bore made in the first year of production. It had nickel steel barrels with 25" full choke. I believe this was the first configuration of the model 12. I've always wondered why they the gun was introduced in 20 bore.

I have a 16 gauge Model 12 that I don't use enough.

Another Model 12 on the clays course. This one a 1948 Trap Grade, 30-incher with solid matted rib. It's so nice to be able to shoot 100 (relatively) cheap commercial 12-gauge shells for vintage sporting and without having to crank up the MEC.

Well, after shooting the M-12's almost exclusively for sporting clays over a few months now, I'll be getting back in gear with the S x S's in prep for the Northeast at Hausmann's in June.

Well, thanks in part to this post, I have just acquired a Heavy Duck. Not in as good a condition as some of the others but original pad, 3 inch chambers and 32 inch barrels. Looking forward to shooting it.

Mills- you will have a great time with your HDG. I wouldn't sweat the condition thing. The gun probably acquired the scars and mars while hunting. Use it and it will gain even more. One thing- don't hesitate to open up the choke a bit. Mine is about .707 and it patterns steel beautifully. Others more purists than I will differ but life is very short so enjoy it. And using a HDG is a lot of fun. Jeff

Welcome to the club

Not a heavy duck but Just curious how desirable is a model 12 16 gauge made 1955 Skeet gun marked WS1. Plain barrel. Very noce gun. Seems like it would make a great gun for quail.

Congrats Mills on your Heavy Duck; they are fantastic guns. As Jeff has written, life is short and to each his own on the chokes. JMO but the cost of hunting shells is relatively insignificant and hence I won't open a HD choke for steel shot ….. for me it's bismuth and better yet Kent TM for waterfowl, lead 4's (or 2's where legal) for turkeys and deuces for foxes.

Phil, the early 1950's SKEET guns were catalogued only with matted (solid rib) and with vent rib barrels. If your gun has a plain barrel with factory stamped WS-1 choke, it's likely a special ordered Field gun. Yup. would probably make a good quail or heavy cover woodcock and grouse gun depending on the barrel length.

Anyone interested in a good M12 solid rib Heavy Duck who will be at the Northeast SxS might refer to my Northeast Preview post in the Members' FS section. Reducing the collection.

I agree the cost of ammunition is always the cheapest part of any hunting equation. I just kill more geese with a little more open barrel and it does pattern a lot better.

Thanks guys. I will keep the choke as it is. I will get some photos this weekend, or at least try to. I also snagged a LC Smith Long Range and a Parker 12 on a 3 frame, so my waterfowl gun collection is doing well

mills i have a long range lc smith that has 30 inch modified steel barrels i have shot heavy steel duck loads in it for several years no harm to the barrels and will get them ducks..i too have a model 12 with the cutts choke its like new but i do not shoot it much but really like the looks of the model 12 but just aint a pump man....charlie

My first shotgun was an 870 20 gauge. Ever since really getting into doubles, I have not shot pumps much at all. Still, looking forward to shooting this one this weekend, assuming it does not rain all weekend

Decision. Decisions

Here's a first year nickel steel Model 1912 in 20 bore, 2 barrel set with a low 4 digit serial number. The early production barrels were made 25", this one with Mod choke. The second barrel has matching s/n and is 28" Full choke. Weights: 5^15 and 6^2 respectively. The finish is worn and bright but she's still tight as a tick and ready to hunt, 106 years and counting. You can see her at the Northeast SxS.

A 20 gauge is next on the model 12 list. An early number would be great. Right now I have some other irons in the fire

mills when you find 2 model 12- 20 ga s send one of them to me....charlie

Sure will Charlie.

Shot it today on clays and did decent. Kept reaching for the second trigger and forgetting to pump. Hard to believe I used to shoot a pump so easily