Hello Everyone,
Thought I'd introduce myself........ Jon Burnett from Spencer, Wisconsin.

I have only two Winchester firearms. 1895 model rifle and Model 12 shotgun. At present, I don't recall the year of manufacture on the rifle but the model 12 shotgun dates to 1962.

I'm no expert or even close to being one. I own them to shoot them. And speaking of that, I'm interested in crossing paths with anyone that might share some information on the Model 12 shotguns. I've read quite a bit online and have come to feel that my particular Model 12 must be one that was........as they say..........."Built Up" into a trap gun. I'm hoping someone can help me verify this. Not that it makes any difference to me but I enjoy this shotgun, it seems to 'see' the same as I see when I point it, and ........well............ it's darn good lookin' too.

Here's what I know............
1. Barrel and receive numbers match.
2. There are NO "Trap" or "Pigeon" brands on the gun.
3. Has a beautiful monte carlo stock with matching forearm. Gorgeous wood. Very glossy finish to the wood.
4. Raised rib. A mid bead and another at the muzzle. Raised rib has square / rectangle posts. Rib comes back onto the receive if you know what I mean.
5. Bluing is very nice over all. I wouldn't know if it was ever redone or not. Has some very slight wear here and there such as on the magazine tube where it is worn a lot but not rusted or ugly. Barrel and receiver and very nice.
6. Butt pad is red (that vintage orange look) and not solid but that criss-cross pattern often seen on old guns.
7. No fancy carving or jeweling anywhere.
8. 30 inch barrel. Full choke.

I'm not interested in potential value or anything of that sort. Just curious if someone out there might take a minute and share some information as I'm always interested in what can be learned.

I do know this, she sure shoots wonderfully well, points very well, and the action is silky smooth yet tight.

An elderly gentleman in my area placed it on consignment sale at the little sports shop nearby. Just had to have it and I'm happy I made the purchase.

My uneducated guess from all the readings online is that she's had aftermarket wood added, and maybe the raised rib. Bluing? Maybe. It's a pretty gun to look at but in my hands which are only three years into shooting, she's darn accurate on the trap range where I spend most of my time. Truth be known, I've set aside my Benelli Custom Works Super Sport to try this old scatter gun out and it appears she and I will be good friends.

I've seen photos online of others that look very close to what I have.

Any input as to the possible things done to this gun would be most appreciated.

Thanks and it's great to be in the group,

Jon Burnett / Spencer, Wi.

Hello Jon! Welcome to Winchester therapy.

Can't help with your questions. There are several 12 owners with this forum. You will probably have comments coming soon.

I like the 12. However, I prefer levers and exposed hammers. Thus, my early Winchester rifles and shotguns.

Welcome to the Winchester Owners Forum !!

Enjoy our community...

Hi, and welcome.

If I may ask, what is the caliber ans SN of the '95?

I like shotguns, especially straight shooting ones, but really tingle with old blued steel and walnut levers.

44

XLIV wrote:Hi, and welcome.

If I may ask, what is the caliber ans SN of the '95?

I like shotguns, especially straight shooting ones, but really tingle with old blued steel and walnut levers.

44

Hello !! The '95 uses Win-30 (30-30). Serial 271552.

Great! Your rifle was produced in 1916.

But hold everything..

That model was chambered for 30 army(30-40), 30 govt, 30-06, and 30-03 amoung others.

No 30wcf (30-30)

What does it say exactly?
44

XLIV wrote:Great! Your rifle was produced in 1916.

But hold everything..

That model was chambered for 30 army(30-40), 30 govt, 30-06, and 30-03 amoung others.

No 30wcf (30-30)

What does it say exactly?
44

Rifle barrel has this on it: EXACTLY as stamped in the steel: " 30 W.C.F." "Nickel Steel Barrel Especially for Smokeless Powder"

Some time back ( a number of months) I paid for background info on this rifle from the Buffalo Bill Center. While the information was limited, it did provide manufacturing info among other things.

Thanks for the interest!

Jon

Welcome to the Forums. Interesting post already! Intrigue and wonderful to read at 4 AM EST!

Cool! Never heard of one..

Thanks for sharing

44

Gentlemen: Thanks for all the replies. Wish I could meet you all in person. A great time would be had, I'm certain of it.

Meanwhile, I make no claim to fame with any of the vintage firearms I am the current caretaker of. It seems that these wonderful shotguns and rifles have made their way through time successfully. Possibly they have been altered in one fashion or another. In my experience, of which there's little, I've been told more than once that what I treasure is no treasure at all due to changes to the gun over time. Such may be the case here and while I sometimes go home disappointed in owning yet another gun I thought was a national treasure, I've come to realize that maybe............just maybe.............these less-than-perfect guns are a reflection of myself. Therefore, I pay the adoption fee, sometimes only to discover I don't have anything great, yet I find a way to get past all of those things and enjoy them anyway.

One day, with a bit of luck, I may actually have a true relic that boasts high value. Until then, I will clean and oil these odd ones that were on the shelf looking for a home. Truth is, (and you'll all cringe at this) I have plenty of old Stevens (Wards and Sears names on them) 520 and 620 shotguns. Much like a Model A Ford, they offer the chance to see simple workings, understand them, and respond to modest effort from a real rookie. Seems nobody else wants them so I've started there realizing there's no value other than that of giving them a home and having the fun that comes along with shooting them.

The Winchester world is of interest. I'm certain to love it. But I'll probably be that guy that has all those that have suffered some alterations making them of no interest to others on this planet. Then again, I'll keep, care for, and love hearing them go BANG. Sorry to confess I'm no purist. My Side-by-Side from 1915 has the brand name hidden and out of sight. I love it. We get along well.

Regarding my Model 12, she's wonderful eye candy with the best part being that I've had the opportunity to speak with Harry, the prior owner who had her for almost 50 years. It's not always about the gun. In this case, I've been invited to Harry's home. He's over 80 years young, his wife suffers greatly from cancer, and they don't get out much. I've been invited to a man's home and don't even know him. I intend to use his former model 12 as a great reason to come to know this man, befriend him and his wife, and simply ......................listen.

Thanks to each of you for listening.

Jon

Excellent narrative Jon. I enjoyed the read.

You have a feel for history that goes with early guns that were tools, not safe queens. I have my late Dad's 2 guns and my first rifle, a JC Higgins (Winchester) model 28. When I was growing up on a small farm in central, LA, we barley made it through each year by farming, trapping and bartering. Sears & Roebuck and Montgomery Ward were our primary vendors for most everything.

Terrific outlook on life Jon; one that will stand the test of time. I don't want the prettiest girl at the ball either, but she best be a good cook and think my tractor is sexy. I have a wide and varied arsenal of assorted beauties too, but of late have tended to the pallet wood or synthetic black stock, break open, single action of Handi-rifles. These diminutive little guns in nearly all calibers have complimented my revolvers very well in 45 Colt (Buffalo Classic) and 357 Magnum. Then add the 308, 223 in bull and standard barrels, 30-30 and 243. There are a plethora of additional calibers and combinations "out there" too. One barrel fits many receivers. When my son was 4, his parents were outside "landscaping" for 5 minutes while he was unsupervised. Upon our return he was in the middle of the Master bed with a 12 ga single shot Handi-shotgun across his lap (no ammo though). We bought a 16-gun safe that very day. I was told right then, "Don't even think about filling it up." That was FOUR safe's ago...hehe. Reloading and casting has been a blast too - literally. Having a place to shoot (20 acres in rural hard timber) has been a dream. Killed a LOT of hogs there...

I still have my doubts about the chambering. I've never heard of a 95 in 30wcf nor can I find it in any reference material. With the common 1894 chambered in that caliber it seems unlikely. Perhaps it was rebarreled? What did the Cody letter say?

44

Welcome from Florida.