doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 21 Help

Thank you sir.

Well I called the Cody Museum again and they said that all of their records are done by SN, so they were unable to give me additional information since they have no record of my SN. I searched through Ned's book, and I guess the Markings put the gun as an early production. I also looked at the forearm checkering and referenced that in the book and it looks like I have a 1950 era forearm, so I don't know if the forearm was originally shipped with the weapon even though it the SN on the wood and metal is cut and stamped in. Do you think the gun could have been shipped back to Winchester and the wood could have been replaced?

Thanks,

Wade

Yes, that could be what happened. A lot of the upgrading and installation of single triggers and ejectors was very inexpensive compared to today's prices in that time, all the way up into the Custom era post 1960. It was affordable into the eighties. Your gun, subject to inspection by someone who knows what he is looking at, could very well be a factory upgrade.

It may be a bit of a stretch, but it's also a possibility that the frame was not used until the '50s, so the forearm could be original to the gun. As most know, 21s were not assembled in consecutive order.
However, the engine turning was done later.

Leswad
As I said before your gun more and likely started life in the 30s as a double trigger plain extractor gun and was sent back to the factory in the 60s where the custom shop installed a complete forend with beavertail and a single trigger with new trigger plate which required a frame reblue.The custom shop would have done the engined turning at that time if requested.

Like I said, I did this to my gun in 1964.

You have a very nice gun.

AC

In any event, you have a very tastefully done 12 gauge Model 21. You are in fact correct that the forearm checkering patter is in fact 1950's era. Engine tuning is not a difficult thing to do and was commonly done as an upgrade in the 1950's to everything including bolts on bolt acction rifles. So none of the items on your gun can point to Winchester and unless Winchester can up woth some record, that's all you will ever know.
Having a factory record on a field grade Model 21 is not important and one should judge the gun for what it is. There are many Model 21's for which no record exists. An in hands examination by someone with experience in Model 21's will render and opinion but that's what it will be, an opinion.
In the past I have had one 'Custom Built' that would not letter and various 'experts' had different opinions if Winchester or aftermarket. Tony Galazan had examined it at one time and said he believed it was factory and a few years later he purchased it from me.
Personally, I would not care if factory redo or a redo by someone else. There were some very good smiths of that era doing that type of work from Pachymar or down, its a nice Model 21.-Dick

Thanks for all of the input! I have really enjoyed this gun this year as it took about 65 Dove... Now if I can just find a quail hunt to go on!

Thanks,

Wade