The Winchester Model 1200

Buckmastr

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An early 70’s Winchester Model 1200 12 gauge 26” IC choke shot gun I just picked up. All original except the pad from what I can tell. What a beauty pump gun!
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Very nice!!. They seem to be an underrated shotgun. Overshadowed by the 870 popularity. But... not one lick inferior to the "good" 870's. I have an affinity for these as well.
 
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That wood is from a Skeet grade Model 1200 and not original to that field model. Still a very nice pump gun with a cool upgrade. I have 3 and all work well (including a 12 magnum and a 16 bore). Having said that I grew up in farm country and a lot of the guys had the feed store grade Winchester 2200 models (Canadian issue cheapened down model 1200). IIRC they retailed about 100.00 bucks in those days. Those guns had no finish left and the receivers were bare alloy with dry scratchy working inners (from hard use) yet they kept on running. My original 12 Magnum 1200 has a lead slug in the butt just like the old Model 12 Heavy Duck did. At times the slide bridge screw would shear and cause a lot of issues. This was finally traced to an uneven milling on the underside of the bolt slide causing the bridge to shift and shear the screw. The only fix is a new bolt slide. This is from Winchester repair centre them selves. Often bigger screws are tapped in along with other "remedies" but all of those plans would eventually fail. Little tidbit you can use the bolt slide from a Model 1400 semi for the repair. 1400 models did not seem to have the batch of badly machined bolt slides like the 1200 model did. I like the model 1200 they were a good shotgun that seem to have gotten a bad rap mostly because they replaced the grand old model 12. Enjoy your gun it is a beauty. I just took another look at your 1200 the bolt is not engine turned (jeweled) this indicates another replacement it is either from a 2200 or a later 120 series gun. No big deal but just an observation.

Darryl
 
Thanks for the comments guys.
Yes this gun is a bit of an oddball. Skeet pattern pressed checkering is a give away to skeet stock set. The skeet model also had a hard buttplate, this one has a nice half inch decelerator. 26" barrel is common to the skeet guns but with a skeet choke not a IC like this has. The rib on the skeet guns also extends onto the receiver top, but not on this one. The bolt isn't jeweled, may be a replacement but I don't think this gun has seen a box of shells. The wood has the original finish. Much lighter in color with more figure then most 1200's I have seen. I am lucky to have it. Cant keep my hands off it this morning.
 
You MAY have a mix master built from a model 2200. Model 1200 roll marked barrel and skeet grade wood as upgrades. Very nicely done upgrade at that. I know where there is a set of that skeet grade wood for sale. Asking is almost 300.00 bucks. That is a nice gun with a very versatile choking in IMP CYL. Too bad Winchester did not mark receivers like the barrels. Make it an easier mystery to solve.

Darryl
 
You MAY have a mix master built from a model 2200. Model 1200 roll marked barrel and skeet grade wood as upgrades. Very nicely done upgrade at that. I know where there is a set of that skeet grade wood for sale. Asking is almost 300.00 bucks. That is a nice gun with a very versatile choking in IMP CYL. Too bad Winchester did not mark receivers like the barrels. Make it an easier mystery to solve.

Darryl
I am almost positive that is all factory. I just have to find the special run it was and what they called it
Regardless the gun is in beautiful condition
I have seen one like this before factory unaltered and it was some special limited series run if I remember right
Cheers
 
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My brother bought one in the mid 1970's. It's the only gun he's ever used and it served him well every time. I can't recall one instance where he had a problem with it and we hunted together a lot until about 10 years ago.
 
I am almost positive that is all factory. I just have to find the special run it was and what they called it
Regardless the gun is in beautiful condition
I have seen one like this before factory unaltered and it was some special limited series run if I remember right
Cheers

Still looking for the exact one but it was something like this if I remember right a very limited run. Upland something I think

W2516 WINCHESTER MODEL 1200 CLAY TOURNAMENT PRIZE GUN; They made about 100 of these

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That 1200 has some nice looking wood on it. The pressed pattern in it looks identical to a Model 1400 Skeet grade 20 I used to have. Currently I have a 2200 that was my Grandfathers. My Grandmother bought it for him Xmas of 1978 along with about 6 boxes of Winchester ammo. None of the ammo has ever been used and I am pretty sure he never fired the gun. He preferred my Grandmothers old single shot 410(Iver Johnson, I have that gun too) for grouse so that is what he continued to carry up until he gave up hunting in his late 70's.
 
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I'd love to know more about this gun. That is "deluxe" wood. Normally on a skeet gun with a jeweled bolt. However, Winchester had so many variations that it wouldn't surprise me if it was factory, includingthe but pad. Curious, what type of grip cap is on it. Can we get a picture of that? Thanks.
 
I'd love to know more about this gun. That is "deluxe" wood. Normally on a skeet gun with a jeweled bolt. However, Winchester had so many variations that it wouldn't surprise me if it was factory, includingthe but pad. Curious, what type of grip cap is on it. Can we get a picture of that? Thanks.

Think about it this way. Who adds that grade of wood to a field gun other than factory and not use it and where would they find a IC barrel
from the pics that gun is mint and doesn't look like it may have been ever fired
I have not had time to look further but remember seeing one identical years ago but just one Upland something keeps popping into my old head and yes a special limited run
Cheers
 
Thanks for all your help.

This pad isn’t common on model 1200’s but looks too well done to be an after job, it is probably factory now that I look at it closer.
The Lop is ~14.25 with the wood ending at 13.5”. Skeet stocked models had 14” lop with a plastic buttplate. Trap 14.375 with a 1” Winchester rubber pad by the looks of it.

The grip cap is the one after the red W


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1967 Winchester catalog.

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Thanks for all your help.

This pad isn’t common on model 1200’s but looks too well done to be an after job, it is probably factory now that I look at it closer.
The Lop is ~14.25 with the wood ending at 13.5”. Skeet stocked models had 14” lop with a plastic buttplate. Trap 14.375 with a 1” Winchester rubber pad by the looks of it.

The grip cap is the one after the red W


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[Not going to find what you have there in any winchester cat. They didnot include the special runs in any of them plus the black trap pads I seen were not solid like this one in black Does it say winchester on the pad

Cheers
 
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