Really I'm as puzzled as you are but the pistol is a Winchester revolver. It is on the bbl. and in 32-20 cal. As to the model 12 I don't know I'm not a collector but the old man said he was offered 1200 for it but would take 700. This pistol has me very curious but it does say Winchester, has a gold triger, fancy carved ivory grips(factory)and all parts have matching no.s or what ever you call them.

is it possible the word WINCHESTER comes right after the caliber 32-20?????? as in (32-20 winchester)...the cartridge....you could buy a smith and wesson that says 45 COLT on it...but it aint a colt....you can buy a remington 700 rifle that say 270 WINMCHESTER on it........just a guess......good luck with it.....bob

found this site...it says there were some winchester pistols...does it look like one of these?

http://www.merzantique.com/sell/winch_hand.html

bob

.32-20, 32 WCF, 32 Winchester: They are all the same. Being on the barel like you describe, that is the caliber and not the manufacturer of the handgun. There should be some other markings on the frame or top strap that would identify the maker.

I read once where in 1884 Winchester produced a working model single action revolver designed of course to compete with the Colt. The plans were scrapped when Colt dropped their plans to produce a lever action rifle. In that case I'd assume the serial numbers had to have been single digit.

Most likey though you are mis-interpreting the .32-20 Winchester cartridge identification as the Manufacturer.

-M

.358---

It's possible a factory engraved M-12 would be worth $700 but it WOULDN'T have a vent rib on it. Original ribbed Winchesters only had solid ribs or Simmons.

A revolver with Winchester on the barrel is a fake or it's a caliber marking. The gold trigger means somebody refinished it and thought it looked cool.

I don't think you're looking at collector guns and from the first price mentioned I'd say he should have wrestled whoever offered $1200 for a M-12 to the ground and forced him to take the deal. He missed out on the best sale he's ever likely to find. Half that would be about double what it's likely worth.

There ARE some unusual Winchesters with strange factory options......Black Diamond straight grips come to mind, but they didn't have vent ribs.....that's a late option and not done by Winchester.

Pictures would be nice!!

Since everyone else is to nice to say it I will. The old man is trying to rip you OFF!!!

Well maybe not, but it does make ya wonder.

I have no idea what this guy ACTUALLY has, but...
My understanding is that all 12 of the known Winchester revolvers are held by the Cody museum, and they are all 44-40s.
Most M12s with vent ribs are aftermarket, but there was a time when the Winchester ventilated rib could be included as an added cost option. These are rare.

Kaboom---

Vent rib M-12s were standard on Pigeon grade skeet guns but they were all Simmons ribs and they didn't make that model in 16 ga.

I agree that there's a potential rip-off in progress.

You guys are right I just don't have enough information. I'm not trying to buy these guns, just curious about them. I"M goining to visit the old fellow again and take a notebook ! I think your right about the pistol ,it might have said 32-20 winchestr. But, I sure will check. He did invite me out to hunt turkeys this spring and the place is crawling with them so I have an excuse to go back ! also he sold me a Rem. model 7 NIB in .223 for 250.00, thought it was a good deal untill I found putit had a 18 " bbbl.

Are we talking about a pistol or a shotgun??

.358 sez -

"I'm as puzzled as you are but the pistol is a Winchester revolver... As to the model 12... This pistol has me very curious but it does say Winchester..."