Heavy Duck gun on a clays course

[fred]

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

[Cold Spring]

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

[BS]

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

[BS]

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

[Tom Flanigan]

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.

[Cold Spring]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

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.

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.

[Mills]

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

[Cold Spring]

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.

[Mills]

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.

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Mills Morrison

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.

Welcome to the club