doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Winchester 21 stock ?

Is this the so called "canoe paddle style" stock on a Winchester 21? The serial number is 16643, any idea of when this gun was made?

This is what the early "canoe paddle style" stocks look like.

looks like my 15299, 1939.

This is my 18247 which was made about December 1941.
Your 16643 was made in 1940. It is incredible what beautiful wood the put on these "Standard" grades.

Your serial number is quite a bit high to be the early semi- pistol grip, Craig. They only lasted a few thousand serial numbers and only lasted the first few years. JB's is similar but as you notice, the bottom of the newer pistol grip is square and protrudes farther. The earlier ones were rounded off like JB's and and the cap didn't stick out as much as the earlier ones. The early ones were discontinued around 1933. Good luck.

Lots of answers, but the answer to Craig's question is "No, yours is not the "canoe paddle" stock." Serial numbers are all over the map. They did not use the frames in order. Your gun could have been made in 1940 or 1957. A letter from Cody is the only way to know for sure.

Model 21 numbers don't necessarily follow each other linearly. Putting an accurate year date to a serial number is tenative at best.

According to the paperwork from Cody Firearms Museum, my Model 21, serial # 168** went into final inspection on Feb. 2, 1942 and completed final inspection one week later.

The only way to realy know for sure when a Model 21 was built is to get a letter from Cody. It's like a birth certificate. Well worth it with the cost of 21s being what they are these days.

Just some thoughts.

Tony

Whether they used the frames in order or not, I doubt very seriously if you will ever find a 21 with a serial number in the 16XXX range with the old semi pistol grip as they were called. Especially since they quit making the stock in 1933 about the time #8,000 frame was produced and frame 16,500 wasn't made until around 1940. So you have seven years of new buttstocks being made before his frame was ever made. So as I said, his gun is too new to have the old semi pistol grip (or canoe paddle as you call it) on it.

Jimmy,

No arguement from me on the stock issue. I was refering to the dates of manufacture versus serial numbers.

The only nice thing that can be said about those early semi PG or canoe paddle stocks is that they can be converted into straight grips quite nicely if the wood is nice enough.

Tony

Sorry, didn't mean to act excited. By the way, Tony, I sent you a PM. You are the one who has the Model 21 page aren't you?