1937 Winchester Model 12 Field Grade 20 Gauge Pump-Action, 28 inch Plain Barrel, Modified Choke, Takedown
This pre-WWII Winchester Model 12 Field Grade in 20 gauge was manufactured in 1937 and features the lighter, smaller 20-gauge receiver. It has a 28 inch plain steel barrel with a modified choke and a 2 3/4 inch chamber, plus a clean, shiny bore. Classic details include a blued finish, oil-finished walnut furniture with a grooved corncob fore-end, and a matted receiver top. It retains the original action design with no disconnector, making it slam-fire capable.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Specific Condition Notes: There are scattered scratches and blemishes on the metal and wood. Minor plastic fouling from wads is present, but the bore remains shiny and in great shape.
What’s Included
- Winchester Model 12 Field Grade 20 Gauge pump-action shotgun
The 1937 production date places this Model 12 firmly in the pre-WWII era, a period valued by many collectors. The 20-gauge versions were built on a smaller receiver, giving this Field Grade a trim profile while retaining the robust steel construction and blued finish Winchester is known for.
Its 28 inch plain barrel is marked "WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL" and "MODEL 12 – 20 GA., 2 3/4 CHAM., MOD.," confirming its 2 3/4 inch chamber and modified choke. The single front bead and the matted, serrated anti-glare top on the receiver support a clean, unobstructed sight picture.
The action is pump-operated with no disconnector, making it slam-fire capable, and it feeds from a 5-round tubular magazine with right-side ejection. The takedown design allows the barrel and magazine assembly to separate from the receiver for convenient transport and maintenance.
Furniture is oil-finished walnut, including a pistol-grip stock with a straight comb and no checkering, paired with the classic grooved corncob fore-end. Length of pull is 14.0 inches, offering a traditional field fit.