Rem M12A mix up

[John Gyde]

[quote="blastumnow1957"]Good day everyone. Iv got a M12A that i got from my dad with a date code of R L the chart says its 1942 .The Q iv got is all the info im finding on it says it should have a rubber butt plate but mine has the cresent steel butt plate. Any one got any clues to why or was this a swicheroo with a different gun.
Just courious, I love the gun the way it is and wouldnt trade it for the world. Thanks for looking,
Al.[/quote]
The production of the M/12 ended in 1936. There were a few mop-ups but I doubt that they continued into 1942. It sounds like you have a M/121.

[remington600]

You say crescent steel buttplate? Is it flat or curved? Does the buttplate wrap around the top of the stock. Is the buttplate textured or smooth? What's your serial number.? Is that the only date code on your barrel? It's quite common for parts to be switched around.

Billy Smith

[John Gyde]

I noticed that he said crescent, but... Most butt plates on the M/121 are aluminum. If it's a M/121 it will say so on the side of the receiver. The serial # might be a big help. If it's much over 300,000 we go back to it being a M/12. Is the barrel round or octagonal?

[remington600]

Yes it sounds like you have a model 12. The date code before the number 2 is when it was repaired. The butt stock is most likely been replaced. If you remove the butt plate there should be a serial number.

Billy Smith

[John Gyde]

According to Rem records your M/12 was made in 1914. The "2" stands for parts order barrel so it has been replaced. If the serial # stamped in the wood under the butt plate is close to the # on the rifle it probably started it's life out as a M/12-C with an octagon barrel. Another clue would be to look at the fore-arm. If it was for a 12-C it would be "squared" on the underside near the bottom on each side. If it originally came with a round barrel that area would be rounded.

[remington600]

Isn't a barrel replacement a number 3? Break the action down and see if the serial number on the inside of the action matches the one on the outside.

Billy Smith

[John Gyde]

2 Parts Order Barrel
3 Service Section Received (repaired)
4 Returned (not repaired I think)
5 Employee Sale

[remington600]

Yes, I have 2 as barrel replaced by authorized gunsmith. 3 factory replaced. Who knows! Repaired is repaired.

Billy Smith