doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Winchester Mod 12 Saltwood?

I took a buttplate off a mid 50's Model 12 and noticed what appears to be salt residue at the back end of the stock. When I took the stock off, the long nut that protrudes from the back of the receiver had some rust. Is this in fact a salty piece of wood and can the salt be neutralized or at least mitigated? thanks!

Next time buy really old Remi 870 'Wingmaster'. You know, the one with grooved slide handle. It's lighter, has dual action bars, only the barrel comes off, bolt locks into barrel extension and they can be found in really nice shape for $300 or less. Did you know that 16br made of 12ga frame is lighter then both Model 12 and Ithaca 37 despite the fact those two seem to be made on smaller size frame?

Gil, I don't believe Browning had the salt wood problem until the mid 60's. Your problem may be due to a temporary moisture or water problem. There are ways to test the wood. I,m sure someone will soon check in with exact dates and advice.
Dave

According to Eastmans Browning book 1966-1973 were salt wood years. You can test for salt using silver nitrate (if white precipitate forms you have salf in wood). Stock replacement is the only CURE. I don't think you have such wood on that gun (UNLESS IT'S REPLACEMENT LUMBER COMING FROM SALT ERA BATCH), but since 2,026,721 these things were made between 1912 and 1980 finding replacement timber should present no problems.
Don't be afraid to change wood if it approximates original appearance and dimensions.
From 'Pumpgun Collecting Pitfalls' numero 4. Replacement wood
"Several former factory employees and others are making sets of skeet, trap, pigeon, and higher grade wood for gunsmiths. Most of these are excellent facsimilies. Many other such craftsmen are making stock and forearms. Try to examine wood alongside a gun of the same grade that is known to be original. Dimension and checking of originals vary some, but be leery of extremes."
You see, if you do it right nobody besides you will know it's not original.
Ref: Winchester Shotguns and Shotshells by Ronald W. Stadt.
I hope you feel better now.

Gil, i believe if your stock was salt wood you could not have screwed off the butt plate or pad. I restocked a Fox in beautiful American walnut that i bought in a rough turned blank and it was salt wood! Could not get the butt plate screws out and trigger guard tang screw! Bobby

What supplier did they get the salt wood from? My late friend here in Iowa sold Browning high grade American walnut in the late 60;s. I remember watching a semi-trailer being loaded when I visited his saw mill in ,I think,1969. He had some really nice Brownings that he had done by the factory with his wood.I believe his son still runs the business.

My uncle restocked an 870 Trap sometime in the late 60's or early 70's. I ended up with the stock and the buttplate screws were rusted into the wood. Had to break the screws to get the plate off. The semi-inletted stock came from Herters and was a very nice piece of wood. I don't believe it was heavily saturated though as it never rusted the receiver.

Lenard