About a year ago-area gun show-- Gent with a table of pump guns had a M12 tagged "M12 Riot Gun" $2000.00. I asked him if I could look it over, and he said "OK" M12 with a Full Choke mark on the barrel- also, the front mounted magazine tube hanger was "re-positioned" forward about 3/4" from the std. position- and the 2 mounting bosses on the barrel had been apparently ground off- as they were missing. I measured the barrel, 20&1/4"-- no choke, but the muzzle cutting must have been done by hand with a hacksaw, as it was not even and flush- No front bead, the serial number indicated aprox. 1947 mfg.. and it had the post 1939 style 14 ring forearm, but the buttstock was a pre-1935 "perch-bellied" series-- with a Pachmyer White Line pad-- It was a Model 12--but no 2K Riot series, not by a long shot.
I prefer the non-take-down version of the M12 in the riot configuration- that being the M25. Hard to find one-- but I have one- designated as my SHTF defense weapon- I keep it with a round of OO buckshot chambered, and 4 rds. in the magazine tube. I also use a 5 rd. shell carrier- on the buttstock-- If I can't stop what's trying to kill me with 10 rds. at close range with that, I'm gonna be "VSF'd" for sure.
