Gun is marked 3 IN. CHAM. 28" Mod/Full. Is this a Duck? Serial is 19,xxx and appears to be 1947

Most Duck were marked ‘Duck’ on the floor plate and most were F/F. They made a Magnum too which came after the Duck. Most Duck have 30” or 32” barrels, many were made with a short stock. Likely, you will need a Cody letter to know for sure what you have. There were lots of special orders.

I have my late father's 12 gauge M21-- sn range 19xxx-mfg. 1940 (but not Cody lettered) Schwing book-- He bought it used in 1948- 28" barrels 3" Chambered, imp. cyl. & mod. chokes, SST, AE- ield grade non-engraved.. Previous owner wanted a 20 gauge, hence the post-WW2 trade deal. I've owned and shot it a lot since 1980, when it was given to me (Thanks, Dad).. weight is 7 lbs. 4 ounces on USPS scales-- 1&1/2" DAC, 2&1/4" DAH, zero cast--

Have no idea who the first owner was, but he used the gun, as seen by "wear with care" in spite of the WW2 shortage on shotgun shells. I wouldn't pay the kind of $ dealers are asking for older M21's today, especially the first series with extractors and DT-

I have never shot a 3" shell in it-- RWTF

Fox and Buzz, thanks for the replies. I will see if I can get the history from the Cody museum. Fox, what are the sight beads on your 3" Model 21? there should be a front and middle bead. are they brass, ivory, silver????

My 21 is marked 3 inch chambers and duck, 30inch tubes.
bill

Bill, are your barrels F/F?

Front bead is ivory- no middle bead. A hunting buddy has a M21 16 gauge, sn. close to mine- 26" barrels, front red Bradley bead style, mid-rib sight is brass--Hope this info helps. RWTF

In the July 1931 Winchester catalog under Model 21 Extras they state --

"12, 16 and 20 gauge guns can be chambered for 3 inch shells.

In the 1933 Winchester catalog they offer "Chamber for 3 inch shell" for both the Tournament and Trap Grades, but don't mention it under the Standard and Custom Built Grades?

Winchester Catalog 89, 1934, is the same. In the 2000 Proof Loads Model 21 book they state "Any Model 21 can be chambered for 3-inch shells at an extra charge."

The 1940 Winchester pocket catalog in a single paragraph under the Standard Grade first mentions the Model 21 Duck Gun in 12-gauge with 30- or 32-inch barrels chambered for 3" shells.

In the large 1941 catalog the Model 21 Duck Gun was fully listed and described. In that catalog 3" chambering is a $5.55 option for any Model 21. By the 1946 Winchester catalog Chambering for 3" shell was up to $9.75.

The Winchester 81 metal front sight was the standard front sight for Model 21s. Most target guns were standard with a Bradley red bead front sight and Winchester 94 metal middle sight. There were however a plethora of options.

Through 1953 the 12-gauge 3-inch Model 21 Duck Gun was offered with 30- or 32-inch barrels. Beginning with the January 2, 1954, Winchester catalog the 30-inch 20-gauge 3-inch chambered gun was added and they became the Model 21 Magnum Gun.

Thanks for the information.

Probably not, as the DUCK was only cataloged with 30- or 32-inch barrels, came with a Winchester recoil pad and was marked DUCK on the trigger plate. 159xx --



226xx --



The only way to know anything for sure is a Cody letter, which hopefully will tell that Winchester chambered the gun for 3" shells, and not the local gunsmith like this Parker Bros. --