Ok Model 12 experts, I've got another gun to ask you about. Did a post-Christmas trip to the "old country" (ie. Pennsylvania) to visit family and do a little Steelhead fishing in Erie, Pa. While killing some time in-between fishing and hunting adventures (wich were somewhat limited by 20-plus inches of accumulated snow) I found an early Model 12 in 20 gauge in a small, backwoods gunshop that I later dated to 1914. Gun is in very good shape, other than someone putting a poorly-fitting pad on it to make it a bit longer. Barrel length is only 25-inches, but it doesn't look to be altered in any way. As best as I can determine, it has 2 1/2 inch chambers but it chambers,fires, and ejects 2 3/4 inch shells just fine. I'm guessing that it has been used with 2 3/4-inch shells most of it's life.
My questions are this: Are 25-inch barrels original in early 20 gauge guns? What was the stock length of pull for this gun when it was original? And finally, what sort of risk is there in using 2 3/4 inch shells in this thing ? I have lots of English 2 1/2s I can use (left from an old hammer gun I once owned) but I'm wondering what my options are here? This should make another nice grouse gun, and for not alot of money.
25 inch Full choke barrels were std. Tghe customer could also specify Mod. or Cyl. (Imp. Cyl. and Imp. Mod. chokes came later on)--the first 3 years of production (1912 to 1915 aprox.) there was just stippling on the top of the receivers, later WRA added the milled groove with the rear "notch"--it will be marked Model 1912- in 1919 WRA dropped the 19 from the barrel roll stamp, and it was the Model 12- nickle steel--I have a 16 ga. Tournament grade 26" solid rib Mod choke Model 12 made in 1922- nickle steel- that Model 12 and also a 16 gauge M21 skeet gun made in 1938 that belongs to a good friend are the only two shotguns that I have ever taken 4 ruffed grouse with 6 shells for a full day's hunting, back here in MI in the mid-1970's-- I used the older Peters purple 2 & 9/16" paper shells in No. 8 shot both events- could not even come close to that today, even if I wanted to.
