It was made by Miroku of Japan, who also made other Browning firearms as well as the Winchester 101 O/U. Browning did make a reproduction, I think in the 1980's. They were never made with choke tubes, but Cutts compensators and Poly-chokes were sometimes added after purchase. They were popular for trap competition, so you'll sometimes find them with after market stocks, if you're looking for original condition. There were special grades that are more expensive and collectible, such as Pigeon and trap/skeet models. The Model 42 (.410) is out of my price range at around $2,000. I have a 12 and 16 ga and hope to add a 20 ha someday. I don't think there was ever a magnum receiver so you'd be restricted to 2 3/4' rounds.

They are more elegant and handle better than any modern pump, and balanced so that they feel lighter. I think after WWII they switched to proof steel. Anyway, early versions with nickel steel barrels were most sought after. Most dealers have a hard time getting premium prices for used shotguns now-there are a lot of them out there. Some dealers are still holding out for those prices. About 20 years ago they became a fad gun with collectors and prices went up.

Field grade guns in good usable condition can be had for $400-600. I have never had one loosen if handled carefully.No experience with the 25 but the Mdl 12 is a quality gun.

They will loosen if the threads are not lubed with a good grease each time they are taken down. Those take up collars are scarcer than Triplelocks! There was a reason! Do not take a 12 apart more often than absolutely necessary. If you look on an old parts list for the 12, you will see that were at least six and maybe eight take up collars available, each with a range of adjustment for wear. The take down feature on pump guns is pretty much only used for cleaning, not for travel these days. It was common to travel by train on hunting and trapshooting trips, and a take down was much more convenient to transport. If you think about takedown shotguns, bear in mind that when the 12 first came out, most shooters were used to doubles and singles, that were of course takedowns. For a brief time there was a Model 12 Lightweight version, that used a different take down design. A solid frame is a very good idea! The Model 97 was also made in take down and solid frame, although without different model numbers. Better to scant the cleaning, or clean from the muzzle than to take them apart often. He told me that of the thousands of guns he had worked, far more had gotten loose from being taken apart for cleaning than ever showed any wear from shooting. One became a little loose, so I took it to the Grand to have Stu Wright, one of the premier M12 smiths, work on it. I shot a couple of older 12's at trap for quite a few years.

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