doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com MOd 12 Question

I have a nice pair of Mod 12's from the 50's--one a 16 nearly in perfect shape and a 20 ga vent rib--totally reblued and refinished by Simmons. Only problem is they are both full choked an not really useful to me. Should I sell them as is? Or 1) open the chokes or 2) put choke tubes.
I am thinking the VR 20 would be about perfect for skeet if it were opened up and the 16 is nice but I don't really need it and it certainly isn't useful with a tight choke. Thanks!

O/T --- Mr. Gill, I have mailed your Rem 17 receiver via Reg. USPS a few days ago. Reg. mail always takes longer. FWIW, Ken

Original 16ga M12 in top shape can bring in pretty penny, so I would not modify it. Local shop had one (16ga/28" MOD) with minor wear priced at $700 and it sold. The M12 is best finished gun in slide action category. Unlike ole 37s they're not sleepers pricewise nor as portable as LWT 31s, but certainly best finished and best lookin in trombone category.
PS. 16ga.com might be good place to move that 16, but don't expect to get top price, because most of those penny pinchers think candy bar is still 5 cents!

I certainly wouldn't hesitate to modify the chokes on the 20ga which has already been removed from collector status by being reblued and refinished. I don't like screw in chokes so would choose to have fixed choke opened to skeet. The way you stated condition I am not sure whether the 16ga is refinished or not. If it is refinished modify the choke. If original and not useful to you - sell it. Personally I would have no problem modifying the choke on that one either - but then I have been known to open chokes on Parkers and other classic doubles to suit my needs.

If you're going to keep them, make them suit your desires. If you're going to sell them, don't change anything.

That's pretty good advice.

What's up with the model 17? That sounds pretty interesting.
Best,
Ted

I would not change any old gun like you have. Messing with the chokes will make it worthless. Get a nice double for skeet and you won't regret it. The price you pay to put in choke tubes will buy you a nice used 870 if you must have a pump gun. Good luck.

gil-

I have a M12 Featherweight (12ga) that I bought fairly cheap because it had a Polychoke on it. The Featherweight was a pretty limited run by M12 standards and I thought finding an original barrel with IC choke would be impossible. To my surprise, it proved to be no problem (in fact I found a brand new barrel).

So perhaps rather than modify either M12, you might wish to hunt down a second barrel for each that best suits your needs and that way you can keep your shotguns as original as possible. In the event you find a second barrel and isn't exactly what you want you could modify it without consequence.

Doug

Ted: The M 17 is one that Ken did some (absolutely beautiful) scratching on for me. A favorite dog who crossed the Big Divide last fall on one side and a Desert quail (Gambel's) on the other. I will post appropriate photos when it arrives, hopefully in the next day or two. That M 17 is the first shotgun I ever owned, it was under the Christmas tree 50 years ago. It belonged to my grandfather; he made the stock on it and it is beautiful as well. It does have a Polychoke but that's what people used in those days so I kinda like that as well.

gr - load and shoot spreader wads in your two guns for some time. If you find you like the guns and more open choke you can either keep loading spreaders or you can then open the chokes knowing you will likely keep the guns.