The mod. 12 predecessor was the model 97. had a hammer on it and in WWI the had a cut down version called the trench gun. The orignal design, Iwas advised by the Wrights out of Illinois, model 12 gunsmiths, that the original guns'
reciever was made out of a single block of steel. It may weigh, even the lightweight, as much as a boat anchor. fired every time.
thanks for the history lesson. the only thing I ever knew about mdl 12's, before I met you, was it was used to kill a guy in the movie BULLET.
The Model 97 is the predecessor to the Model 12, you are correct. The "trench gun" actually had a bayonet lug and ventilated hand guard on top of the barrel. Most of the trench guns were converted after the war (WW1) to prison riot guns and the bayonet lugs were cut off and hand guards removed. An original WW1 Model 97 with bayonet lug and ventilated hand guard in 90% shape or better can fetch over $2500.00 easy.
All Model 97's and Model 12's until around the early 70's were milled receivers made from solid blocks of steel and milled. The guns which have factory steel solid ribs on the barrels were also milled from one block of steel. The solid ribs were not welded, glued, or soddered on the barrels like they do today with most shotguns, they are part of the barrel milled from one block of steel. We estimated to reproduce a Model 12 solid rib gun today, according to the specs used from 1912-1972 it would run in excess of $1000-$1500 in the cost of production and material alone. Retail price would have to be somewhere around $2500.00.
I've got six of them and working on getting two more....
