doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Vexing Questions this Election Cycle

Vanilla or Chocolate
Ford or Chevy
Ginger or Maryann

And now a new imponderable

21 or NID:

Canollis

Maserati

Both

Bertuzzi

(How dare you post doublegun stuff here)

_____________________________
Renzo Piano
(Jag, I hear Hill hates Beenie Babies)

What I would do is buy old English fowler made in or assembled from Birmingham gun trade parts. Examples of worthy makers in no particular order include: Army & Navy, W.C. Scott, BSA, G.E. Lewis, Bonehill, WJ Jeffrey, Tolley,..... You will get stout shotgun with excellent balance and heavy proof along with very good fit and finish for a whole lot less than Winchester Model 21.

Both are 12 gauge DT extractor guns, correct? I am guessing the M21 will fetch a higher price, due to the WRA mystique and the shadows of the late Jack O'Connor. The NID looks to my eyes like an earlier series (1926-1930??) as the cocking pins look to be beveled. I recently bought a 1926 442455 sn range 12- DT, Ext. Grade 2 12 gauge 30" with pad- fits me quite well, has the same balance and feel of a similar 1909 LC Smith Grade 2- that has always been my "golden mean" as to both gun fit and performance.

My opinion, and it is just that - the earlier NID's tend to have better wood to metal fit-up and checkering- the engraving- not a huge issue for me, and the engraving doesn't kill birds. I'd take the NID over the M21- assuming the fit, barrel length and chokes are what you want in a bird gun- and use the $ that you might have to pay to get a M21 in similar configuration to the NID- for shells for off-season practice, possibly a hunt on a preserve come Fall.

I bought the NID from my friend and Master Gunsmith in Grand Rapids, MI- Brad Bachelder- on his recommendation- and I am happy with my purchase- my first NID. I happen to have a 12 gauge M21- made in 1948- left to me by an uncle in 1981, after his passing, and I like it- but I wouldn't spend the $ the dealers are asking for a similar gun (12 gauge with SST and AE) field grade today (aprox. $400-5000 range) just because it is a Model 21.

Just my 2 cents worth- you don't know me, nor I you, but I am known for my frugal habits- I'd rather have a middlin' good 12 side-by-side and spare change for shells and hunts at area bird preserves in the late Fall, than own a M21 or a Churchill or a H&H, and be bereft of the wherewithall to feed it, so to speak.

either one would serve well as a rainy day field gun.....get the one you feel better about lugging around all day.....

Both are classic and as American as apple pie or strawberry rhubarb pie.
The English versions of Model 21 are the "Far Killer" from W.W. Greener and Jeffery's Zenith Gun.
The one that calls out to me the most is W.W. Greener 'Emperor' Model because the action has very, very few parts. As we can all appreciate in this over-complex world the simpler the better.

If you are going to be walking a lot and carrying it all day I'd pick the NID. 21's are heavier and I tire of their weight when walking. If in the blind either one is fine. For bragging rights the 21.

Always been a Ginger guy myself, but then Larry Brown had to bring up Dianna Rigg (Emma Peel) in another thread. Now I'm conflicted...Geo

I have never been able to start a romance with a Model 21...Back in the early 60's I gave a brand new one to my Dad, He kept it long enough to be nice and traded it for a Parker of some sort. Like Francis, I see not much sense in buying the name, IF you are going to actually use the gun. I would go for the NID.

That NID sure looks good and probably costs a lot less than the 21. It would be a no-brainer for me, but I am an Ithaca fan anyway. However, I wouldn't want to carry either one around all day. That's based on experience with a similar NID.

But you should know that a bunch of guys I shoot with would drool if I showed up with that NID.