I have my share of modern firearms, but always on the lookout for old wood and blue classics. I grew up shooting a Remington M31 solid rib 12ga. It had the barrel cut to around 23” with a poly-Choke installed. Killed a lot of rabbit/squirrel and the occasional turkey/deer. This was a community family gun.

My first shotgun of my own was a Win M1200 20ga. Always wanted a M12, but the prices were always more then the family or I could afford.

I ran across a site today that was selling a M12 12ga with English grip stock, solid rib 30” full coke barrel. They also had a M31 12ga. With 32” Hi vent rib barrel. Both looked to be in excellent condition and very attractive price. I made an offer on both about 20% under asking and they accepted.

I will post pics when they arrive. At one time I had as many as 9 different firearms in my cart. Mostly all classics that the newer generation doesn’t realize the craftsmanship. It is a great time to be a buyer.

Look forward to seeing the pictures. Sounds like you made a good buy.

I inherited a model 97 Winchester 12 gauge when my dad died.I knew my great grandfather originally owned it and when he died it went to my dad.I found out it left the factory in 1928 and made its way to northern Michigan where my g grandfather bought it.I had a bunch of old slides of my grandmas and it going thru them I found a bunch of slides of different family members with that shotgun and their game.Lots of slides with ducks and geese,some with rabbits(snowshoe hares),and one with 2 coyotes strung up,all with this shotgun in the picture.When we moved to southern Michigan in the late 50's or so and pheasant was the big thing dad used it for them.When I got old enough to hunt I shot my first squirrel,rabbit,duck and goose with it.A few years ago I used it for my first turkey.I personally cannot get on board the tactical black weapon look so popular today.Wood and blue anyday for me.

Model 12 Winchester 12 gauge shotguns can be had for reasonable prices. The 16 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga are a totally different animal....worth much more.
....then there's the Winchester 42, what a sweetie !

TRying to post pics, was able to do it before but no luck right now [img]http://https://www.icloud.com/photos/#/i,pz,D2CB9378-4212-4A54-9EC5-16A58BD1F62F,93/[/img]

I have 2 Remington model 31s. A 20 gauge, which is the one I grew up shooting, and a 16 gauge with poly choke.

Blued and wood is about all that lives here. I have no desire to own any of this new, black junk. I have heard lots of guys comment on the wood of a fine firearm but have yet to hear anyone say "Nice plastic on this one!"

Old guns are the only guns that matter.

I like and prefer old guns. But can't stand taking them out and beating them up especially the ones I waited a decade to find at a price I was willing to pay. Since they matter to me I have some newer ones with synthetic that are lighter, cheaper some more accurate I don't care about scratching up that I tend to be my go to guns. The nice old ones only seem to get out in nice weather and semi controlled conditions.

Still considering if I messed up not buying a 16 g auto 5 I saw for $800 3 weeks back and wondering if it I'd still there. But I have many shotguns that have not been shot in years and don't need another one. I didn't ask to handle it becues if I had it would have followed me home. So I have some limited will power at least temporarily(it may come home if it's there next time I am).

I do have a little history with older shotguns. Then first and only pheasant double I ever made was with my dad’s old Winchester Model 12-16ga. And I still have it today. That particular shotgun with it’s smooth bore can really throw a slug let me tell you at 100yds!! Back in my late teens a neighbor ask me to come over because he had 2 shotguns for sale. One was a Winchester Model 12-12ga and the other a Remington Model 11-12ga Sportsman which was a 3-shot auto. As a young guy, how could I resist an auto??? I bought the Remington and loved it because it fit me like a Model 12 but and with the hump made it a perfect fit!

After I married and was building a “garage” house I needed some $$ to finish it so I raffled the Model 11 off at my work place for $150 in 1966.

I’ve got a Winchester Model 71 Deluxe 348 caliber in about 95 percent condition with beautiful wood, with hot loads it’s not for the faint of heart!

Yep the old classics were well made and have been around for a long time.

All the long guns I own have walnut stocks and blued steel except my AR.

Some are classics, a Rem Model 69, a Rem 870, an Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight, a, Win M70, a Win M12, ect.

Some are newer but none have composite stocks or stainless steel.

The love of blued steel and walnut seems to be an affliction affecting those over 60. I used to love going to gun and knife shows but rarely bother anymore. Now the guns are mostly carry pistols and black rifles. Instead of custom knife makers we get some guy peddling Pakistani junk. The guns are practical and useful and I own some, but to me they don't have the appeal of blued steel and walnut (or maple).

I went to an auction once where the heirs were selling off a gentleman’s collection. He had over 300 old shotguns. Majority old M97 and M12. Some Remington m10/m29/m31 etc. he had 20 plus shooting match shotguns with barrels over 40+”.

He must of bought every old gun in a 100 mile radius for years. By the end of the auction, they were selling M12’s (standard barrel 12ga with either full or modified choke) for $200.

Every gun at an auction around here brings twice what it's worth.

My Dads Model 97 and my Grandpa's 1887 10 gauge

The Savage 99's are real classics!

I like to think of it as old guns are like a fine muscle car or collectors car

you don't drive it in the snow and salt for a reason.

the black guns are tools , you build it to do the task you intend , if it gets a scratch no biggie , fell in the mud , hose it off , the aluminum won't rust and you can toss a Krylon paint job on it any time.

Exactly how I view it. With the limited all weather options back in the day, it is a miracle some of these old guns are still in the condition they are.