2045

WINCHESTER MODEL 12 SUPER PIGEON NO. 5 ENGRAVED

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
WINCHESTER MODEL 12 SUPER PIGEON NO. 5 ENGRAVED

WITH GOLD PUMP SHOTGUN. Cal. 12 Ga., 2 3/4". S# Y1966222. Action & bbl. have exquisite No. 5 Custom Shop engraving by Nick Kusmit. Highly detailed scenes are bordered by vine type foliate scroll w/ gold borders. Right side features a marsh scene w/ 4 flying gold inlaid mallards. Left side woodland scene depicts 2 gold inlaid pointers w/ a gold inlaid flushing partridge. The scroll extends to upper & lower forward receiver surfaces along w/ the trigger guard, which has a raised gold initial "H" that appears to have been added later. Bbl. has standard Pre 64 markings moved forward to allow for matching wedges of scroll engraving & borders forward of the receiver extension. Upper areas of the receiver extension have matching scroll highlights w/ a pigeon on the bottom. Nick Kusmit was a renowned Winchester in house engraver from 1950-1981. Nick continued to engrave Winchesters until he passed in 2010. The only Model 12s available after regular production ended in 1964 & before the 1972 reintroduction of the Y Series were Custom Shop Super Pigeons. The Y prefix was first used on some of these fine shotguns. Bbl. 26" w/ factory 3 pin new style VR having duck bill receiver extension. Red target front sight w/ steel mid bead. Bolt & carrier have Pigeon grade hand jeweling. Beavertail forearm & Monte Carlo trap dimension stock of fancy walnut. Stock features include style 12B hand carving by Custom Shop Checkerer Michael Nicholson. Pre 64 style steel grip cap w/ engraved screw. LOP: 14 3/8" over original red ventilated Win. pad. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Upon Nick Kusmit's passing in 2010, Pauline Muerrle acquired Nick's personal engraving records. A Pauline Muerrle letter dated 9-3-21 stating "This Model 12 Winchester, Serial No. Y1966222 was factory engraved by Winchester Custom Shop Engraver Nick Kusmit. It was engraved in a No. 5 pattern with Pigeon. The following is taken from Winchester Factory Engraving Records - / 12-5 1966222 / Start July 12, 68 - 5.5 HRS. Mark with pigeon / 15 - 7.75 / 16 - 2.75 / 18 -4.25 / Finish 19-4.75 / The word on this gun was B carved by Winchester Custom Shop Checkerer Mike Nicholson". CONDITION: retains over 97% original blue. Left side of receiver shows spots of corrosion & very light pitting w/ a sm area of lightly faded blue from cleaning. Forearm cap shows corrosion w/ corresponding wood darkening on the front edge of the forearm. Stock & forearm have lightly crazed finish showing wear spots. Mag. tube has sm. dent that is covered when action is closed. Forward portion of forearm checkering showing some age related darkening. Very good bore. (21-2725/DS). CURIO. $3,500-5,000.