Winchester Model 12
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 6:48 am
My bird gun is a Model 12 pump in 16 gauge made in 1948 that I picked up used about 15 years ago—only shotgun I can hit much of anything with. Since then, it has shot over a thousand live birds, countless clays, and many more clean misses (I am still a hopeless shotgun shot!). When it isn’t in the field, it is normally leaning against a wall in the mudroom where it collects dog drool and moisture and dirt daily.
I’m also bad/lazy about taking care of it, so there’s always rust on it somewhere. So I finally took it to my favorite gunsmith/gun store to see about refinishing it. I wanted re-bluing, but was also considering dark blue cerakote to better protect it, given my faults and its life; my kids are not interested in bird hunting, so I’m only considering my own lifestyle with it, so cerakote seems a reasonable option.
Well, the staff at the gun store thought I was on the wrong track. They said the gun is in really good original shape, and I would be stupid to cerakote it, but did give me an estimate to do so. What we settled on is a disassembly, thorough cleaning, and a partial re-blue of just the receiver and trigger guard—where I carry it and handle it most. Gunsmith said he could do it to match and blend in with the rest of the gun which would protect it without making it look bad. Price was reasonable, projected time to completion is between 2 and 6 months…he’s swamped with hunting gun repairs now. So that’s what I am doing, gonna use one of my other guns that goes bang, but will do nothing to harm the pheasant/quail population this year.
I’m also bad/lazy about taking care of it, so there’s always rust on it somewhere. So I finally took it to my favorite gunsmith/gun store to see about refinishing it. I wanted re-bluing, but was also considering dark blue cerakote to better protect it, given my faults and its life; my kids are not interested in bird hunting, so I’m only considering my own lifestyle with it, so cerakote seems a reasonable option.
Well, the staff at the gun store thought I was on the wrong track. They said the gun is in really good original shape, and I would be stupid to cerakote it, but did give me an estimate to do so. What we settled on is a disassembly, thorough cleaning, and a partial re-blue of just the receiver and trigger guard—where I carry it and handle it most. Gunsmith said he could do it to match and blend in with the rest of the gun which would protect it without making it look bad. Price was reasonable, projected time to completion is between 2 and 6 months…he’s swamped with hunting gun repairs now. So that’s what I am doing, gonna use one of my other guns that goes bang, but will do nothing to harm the pheasant/quail population this year.