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
Last edited by Frank Srebro; 03-22-2018 at 04:52 PM..
Reason: Edited after post I was replying to was edited.
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