Winchester Model 12 Parts in Canada?

Travis Bickle

Travis Bickle

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Well, picked up a well worn/well used Model 12 off the EE.
Advertised as mechanically rock solid but worn from handling and bush carry.
Exactly what I was looking for!
Took it out today and now understand that mechanically rock solid includes a broken firing pin tip.....
Waiting for the sellers response on this but more to follow on that lol

Anyhow, I'm no stranger to the model 12. I full detail stripped it including the whole bolt assembly.
Firing pin is indeed sheered off at the tip of the pin just ahead of the shoulder.
Otherwise she is in very solid shape for a 182### serial putting it around 100 years old!

Does anyone know anywhere in Canada where a fellow can find a 12ga Model 12 Firing Pin? I'm seeing them all over US sights for around $25 - $30
I'm guessing in Canada that's going to translate to around $80 easily but a shotgun without a firing pin is just a metal stick.

Any leads, tips or ideas are welcome on where to locate on.
 
Western Gun Parts in Edmonton or Numrich Gun Parts (E-Gun Parts) in the US. . I believe a firing pin is legal to ship to Canada as it'll be under the maximum allowable dollar amount and don't believe it to be a prohibited export item. . If you call Numrich they'll know ..

If these don't work out for you possibly you can repair the f/p. Grind the f/p down to the start of the taper and drill it out and thread in a tip made from chrome molley or the hardest steel you can get. . Red loctite, trim to the correct length and diameter.
 
bluedcanoed said:
Many model 12 s will still fire with the tip broken; your seller may have thought "if it fires every time -- it's in good shape".
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This is indeed what happened.
However it binds up hard in the channel.
I was lucky, when I chambered the first live shell, the pin was protruding seized so far that the rim of the shell could not get up to the face of the bolt and chamber.
Could have been a lot worse.
Seller made it right though! Numrish is the place to go now FYI, their shipping rates have dropped way down!
 
28 gauge said:
Yes ,it is a well known fact that Model 12s can have a broken firing pin and still work well.
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It's actually pretty impressive to be honest.
I have stripped 3 model 12's down to pins and springs. I know them intimately and the craftsmanship is beyond top notch.
It amazes me that these fackin' beasts can still be had for around $250 for a field model.
If this thing was made in current times at the same manufacture level they would be near a grand easily. All parts 100% high quality handfitted steel.
Case in point this thing is 100 years old and even with a broken firing pin, it will still fire a shell as long as the pin tip doesn't seize in channel and either miss-feed or cause unintentional discharge.
It's otherwise in rock solid shape. I picked up a new firing pin from Numrich. Got a new mag tube band screw x2, new mag tube lock pin and spring, new bolt pin lock spring and pin set screw and a buttplate for her. Basically she'll be good to go for another 100 years and it cost under $100 CAD for all the parts :rockOn:
 
Rod said:
Western Gun Parts in Edmonton or Numrich Gun Parts (E-Gun Parts) in the US. . I believe a firing pin is legal to ship to Canada as it'll be under the maximum allowable dollar amount and don't believe it to be a prohibited export item. . If you call Numrich they'll know ..

If these don't work out for you possibly you can repair the f/p. Grind the f/p down to the start of the taper and drill it out and thread in a tip made from chrome molley or the hardest steel you can get. . Red loctite, trim to the correct length and diameter.
Click to expand...

Tried Western. Too expensive unfortunately. I got the parts plus several other on the same ticket for 40% less than what it would have cost me at Western AFTER conversion and shipping.
Went with Numrich.
 
Travis Bickle said:
It's actually pretty impressive to be honest.
I have stripped 3 model 12's down to pins and springs. I know them intimately and the craftsmanship is beyond top notch.
It amazes me that these fackin' beasts can still be had for around $250 for a field model.
If this thing was made in current times at the same manufacture level they would be near a grand easily. All parts 100% high quality handfitted steel.
Case in point this thing is 100 years old and even with a broken firing pin, it will still fire a shell as long as the pin tip doesn't seize in channel and either miss-feed or cause unintentional discharge.
It's otherwise in rock solid shape. I picked up a new firing pin from Numrich. Got a new mag tube band screw x2, new mag tube lock pin and spring, new bolt pin lock spring and pin set screw and a buttplate for her. Basically she'll be good to go for another 100 years and it cost under $100 CAD for all the parts :rockOn:
Click to expand...

You are right ,it is amazing how these guns will still go bang even with a broken firing pin.I read an article not too long ago, that pretty much sums up the current view of the Model 12.It was titled ,"The Once Loved ,Now Almost Forgotten Model 12".
 
Travis Bickle said:
It's actually pretty impressive to be honest.
I have stripped 3 model 12's down to pins and springs. I know them intimately and the craftsmanship is beyond top notch.
It amazes me that these fackin' beasts can still be had for around $250 for a field model.
If this thing was made in current times at the same manufacture level they would be near a grand easily. All parts 100% high quality handfitted steel.
Case in point this thing is 100 years old and even with a broken firing pin, it will still fire a shell as long as the pin tip doesn't seize in channel and either miss-feed or cause unintentional discharge.
It's otherwise in rock solid shape. I picked up a new firing pin from Numrich. Got a new mag tube band screw x2, new mag tube lock pin and spring, new bolt pin lock spring and pin set screw and a buttplate for her. Basically she'll be good to go for another 100 years and it cost under $100 CAD for all the parts :rockOn:
Click to expand...
Yup...marvelous piece of workmanship. If one has any mechanical or machining background M12's will be fascinating. No wonder Winchester went broke Now bring on the M12 critics...
 
3macs1 said:
It would be a toss up for me with the model 31 and I own some of both
But all joking aside it was the introduction of the 870 that killed the model 12 production
Cheers
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Yes. It was a two fold issue.
It became too costly to produce the model 12. Too much high quality steel, too much high end machining.
They had to come up with a much simpler design to keep slamming out a shotgun product that could be sold at a price tag that people would actually pay hence the 870.
Not to say the 870 is not a great shotgun. But I still think the action, design overall quality and durability of the Model 12 is far superior.
An obsolete dinosaur of a bygone era but still a venerable old bastard and easily high up on the best pump gun ever made IMHO
 
struff55 said:
The 870 killed the model 12 now that's funny ��
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Laugh all you like. It is well known the introduction of the 870 in 51 was deemed the beginning of the end for the model 12.
A new breed of shotgun was emerging one that could do the job at less than 1/2 the price of a new model 12
By 64 the production costs of the model 12 were more than they could sell the gun for so they stopped production while during the same time remington was one year away from selling their first 1 million 870's. Quite an achievement when one considers in the 18 years they made the model 31 they only sold less than 200,000
Even notes it in that link I posted above the 870 introduction was the final nail for the old model 12
What do you think happened??
Cheers
 
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It had nothing to do with the 870 the cost of producing the model 12 was its own demise it would have happed if the 870 wasn't being manufactured . Just like the model 21 it wasn't because of the savage 311 . Just like the sx 1 it wasn't because of any other semi auto . Just like the old a5 to many hand hrs to make the gun
 
struff55 said:
It had nothing to do with the 870 the cost of producing the model 12 was its own demise it would have happed if the 870 wasn't being manufactured . Just like the model 21 it wasn't because of the savage 311 . Just like the sx 1 it wasn't because of any other semi auto . Just like the old a5 to many hand hrs to make the gun
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If it wasn't for the more cheaply made guns then people would have continued to purchase the more expensive guns as they wouldn't have had a choice.
 
BigUglyMan said:
If it wasn't for the more cheaply made guns then people would have continued to purchase the more expensive guns as they wouldn't have had a choice.
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Exactly. I didnot say anything since I know with struff55 when we talk model 12's it is like me and 28ga all the blood runs to the other head :)
take care
 
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struff55 said:
It had nothing to do with the 870 the cost of producing the model 12 was its own demise it would have happed if the 870 wasn't being manufactured . Just like the model 21 it wasn't because of the savage 311 . Just like the sx 1 it wasn't because of any other semi auto . Just like the old a5 to many hand hrs to make the gun
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Which is exactly how the cheap made pieces of “widely accepted” junk killed the well made guns. Remington has continued it’s downhill slide to the point they are now about to go the way of the dodo bird too. I’m reading daily they are about to close their doors and since everything they produce nowadays is virtually garbage they surely won’t be missed by those who prefer something better made.
 
BigUglyMan said:
If it wasn't for the more cheaply made guns then people would have continued to purchase the more expensive guns as they wouldn't have had a choice.
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Correct, and the 870 gave people an option to the expensive Model 12. Calling 870’s junk, especially the older Wingmasters, shows blind brand loyalty not sound criticism.
 
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