Model 12 5-digit serial & forestock question

[whimmus]

Hi, all.

I spent a few hours today reading the comments here and decided it was the best place to find out more about my Model 12.

I bought it at a gun show last spring. It was a large show, in a convention hall, but this gun jumped off the table when I saw it and I'd soon negotiated a sale with the seller. I'd decided earlier in the year I'd start collecting Remington 22's after owning a 511 and 512 that showed so much build quality compared with the recent stuff, I was instantly hooked.

The rifle has a serial of 36969. Its a round-barrel version (variant A I'm guessing) and in wonderful shape. The bluing/finish is good still overall with no rust and the wood is still rich with a deep shine.

My first question is age. I'm assuming, from what I've read in the posts here, that it's very early. I was thinking 1910 and possibly first year run in 1909. Can someone shed any light on this?

The other question I had was in regards to the forestock. The grooves in the wood are crudely aligned and it looks almost amateur. At first, I put this down to the age of the gun and techniques at the time but now I'm wondering if its been a replacement. It doesn't detract from the overall gun as a whole, but is noticeable with a closer inspection.

Did the earlier Model 12's have crudely cut grooves like my my gun? Or do I have something else here?

I've attached some pictures of the gun if that helps anyone.

Thanks in advance for any comments or facts regarding this wonderful gun. I appreciate the appeal of collecting these fine rifles.

Cheers.

tim.

[remington600]

Hello Tim, I have quite a few early production model 12s. None of mine are cut as rough as yours, but the forend looks original. Maybe someone at sometime may of tried to modify it. I do know one thing for sure that the screw on the side of the pump is not original. With your serial number I would say your rifle was made late 1910 to early 1911.

[John Gyde]

Remington records (actually estimates) place your M/12-A in 1910. Those records show #s starting with 14287 & ending with 55104 in 1910.

I agree with "600" that the forend looks original. Maybe some poor sanding and recutting of the grooves??? The phillips screw is not original.

I've had a few M/12s jump off the table and land in my lap as well. Good luck with your growing collection of Rem 22s.

Click on Remington Books (shameless plug) on this site if you want to get really hooked on Rem 22s...

[whimmus]

Remington600 & John,

Thanks for the information. The forend is a dead match with the main stock as far as color and grain goes. If it was replaced later, a lot of effort went into matching the wood!

I knew the Phillips screw was not original. The seller pointed this out when I bought the gun, but also told me it was a great excuse to hit as many gun shows as I could to try and find an original replacement. Like I needed an excuse!? The right side screw is original, so I have a reference.

Cheers and thanks!

[whimmus]

Nice score Tim. How does she shoot?

It shoots very straight. The bore is shiny and the rifling appears as crisp as my Anschutz, which amazes me given its age. I won a few ad-hoc iron-sight plinking contests with it. It chokes more often than not on 22 shorts, but only had a few hiccups with Federal Copperwash and CCI SV LR's.

I was going to sell it until recently, when my earlier interest in collecting the older Remington 22's was rekindled.

This site does nothing to help the infliction.