I am seriously looking at a 1953 Model 12 2&3/4" chamber with a solid rib. The rib has a white front bead and white mid bead. It has a 30" full choke barrel. The gun has above average looking wood. Could this be a Trap model? It does not have a monte carlo style stock. The gun is in very good to excellant condition. Is $471 a good deal? Thanks.
870-LEFTY
Yes that's an awesome price! At one time Winchester sold what they called a "Super Field Grade" which was a field grade with a solid rib, recoil pad, and better than average wood.I believe it also had the 2 beads as this gun has. If it was a "Trap Grade" it would say it, stamped on the bottom where the serial numbers are on the receiver and barrel extension. It would say " Model 12 Trap". I have one gun of each, a Super Field Grade as you describe as well as a Trap Grade both with solid ribs. The Super Field Grade doesn't have any markings to state it's a Super Field Grade, just a few more extras than the standard field grade is what defines it. It's an excellant gun although for trap shooting be advised that the solid rib will have heat waves eminating off of it once it gets hot, whereas the ventilated ribs let air flow thru plus sit up off the barrel a little more which avoids the heat waves.So if you shoot trap with it just get in the habit of giving a quick blow into the receiver after each shot to blow the smoke out of the barrel to keep any heat inside the barrel to a minimum.
How can you tell if you are looking at one of the trap guns which is not marked as such near the serial number? I.E., what makes a trap version different than a field gun with a rib and 30 inch full choke? Is it the target forend and a straighter, higher stock? Are there any other intrinsic differences to the trap version versus field guns? Anything different about the internals or chokes?
I'm just now getting interested in expanding to include trap among my games for the first time. I have model 12's for my skeet and field guns and may want to pick up a trap gun.
Anyone care to educate me?
Thanks!
I'm just now getting interested in expanding to include trap among my games for the first time. I have model 12's for my skeet and field guns and may want to pick up a trap gun.
Anyone care to educate me?
Thanks!
My books by Mr. Riffle and Mr. Madis suggest that the field guns did not have a second mid-rib sight bead, but the competition guns did. These could be ordered in any stock dimensions with the wood tending to be good grade. And the trap guns may have a "TRAP" lettered on the stock under the butt plate.
Solid rib traps were on their way out by 1953. A Trap Grade would have a beavertail forend and checkering on both the pistol grip and forend. Only posting a picture would tell us whether your wood appears factory original. You haven't told us whether your gun has checkered wood or not. Unfortunately, switching wood around allows a seller to make what he wants it to be. To answer one poster's question, there is no way to tell except looking at a lot of them.
Not all Trap guns have Monte Carlo stocks. I have a 12ga M12 1958 (ser#1665XXX) marked Trap and it came without a monte Carlo stock. Dad's dentist gave me the gun and paperwork shows a special order trap stock. This gun dates to the 1955 area. It is a great gun with a 30" full choked barrel and a 26" skeet barrel, both have VRs. I used to shoot ducks with it when lead was still legal.
I think that the gun was returned to Winchester in 1960 to have the skeet barrel fitted. Both barrels have the same serial number.
I think that the gun was returned to Winchester in 1960 to have the skeet barrel fitted. Both barrels have the same serial number.
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