Winchester Model 12 1912 M12 Riot 20″ CYL 12 GA Pump Shotgun, MFD 1959 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1226
LSB#: 210308MW02
Make: Winchester
Model: 12 Riot
Serial Number: 1699139
Year of Manufacture: 1959
Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4” Shells
Action Type: Pump Action, Tubular Magazine Fed Takedown Shotgun
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S. OF AMERICA / -WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL-“, “-WINCHESTER- / -TRADE MARK-”, “MODEL 12 – 12 GA. – 2 3/4 CHAM. / CYL”. The top-rear of the barrel and the top-front of the receiver each have an ovalled “WP” proof. The bottom of the barrel extension and receiver are each marked with the serial number. The magazine tube and barrel extension have opposing indexing arrows on the bottom. The left-front of the receiver has been hand-scribed “5800-39”.
Barrel Length: 20 3/4?
Choke: Cylinder Bore, Fixed
Sights / Optics: There is a silver-colored bead at the front of the barrel. There is a sighting groove on the top of the receiver, serrated to reduce glare.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two piece walnut set with grooved slide handle, pistol grip, straight comb, and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are scattered areas of thinning finish, mostly in the buttstock. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 7/8? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has light wear with a few nicks and scratches in otherwise well defined checkering and lettering. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn fouling at the muzzle-end.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 93% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with three more notable scratches on the barrel in front of the magazine tube. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in about Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This shotgun will slam-fire as designed. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Model 1912 (shortened to Model 12 in 1919) was the next step from the Winchester Model 1897 hammer-fired shotgun, which in turn had evolved from the earlier Winchester Model 1893 shotgun. The Model 12 was designed by Winchester engineer T.C. Johnson, and was based in part on the M1893/97 design by John M. Browning, in that it used a sliding forearm or “pump action” to cycle the mechanism. This example is a 12 Gauge riot gun produced in 1959. The Riot configuration was a special order model with a short, Cylinder Bore barrel. For a riot shotgun, it looks like it’s had a fairly gentle life with the great majority of its metal finish remaining, a great bore and strong mechanics, though a previous owner has hand-scribed a number on the receiver, the purpose of which we could not determine. This would make a nice addition to a Winchester or collection. If the collectors pass it by, it will still make for a nice home defense shotgun. Please see our pictures and good luck!