doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Winchester 21s without letters

It wasn't unusal for an action/frame to be declared to not meet spec's when it did. These were to be taken to the old crusher/drop hammer and desposed of. There wasn't any record kept at that point and the serial # was erased from record. Somehow or another, that frame got lost in transit to the crusher. Parts were gotten from parts inventory on the side and a few bucks could get an action fitted up. All the rest filtered out in various ways. FWIW, Ken

Ken, Black W-21s. Ya gotta love it. Wish I could find one. Seems to me all one would need is a knowledgable and skilled barefoot craftsman to bring it up to snuff. Jake

Guys, understand the joke but I have been collecting 21s for over a decade and have 4 now. this gun looks correct and original in every way.

I love the feedback and help from this board. Thanks for the help. This is a tough one.

There are original Win 21's that Cody has no record of. That does not mean it is the proverbial 'Lunch Box' gun which I suspect may be an 'Urban Legend'. The problem comes if the gun differs from the Cody record or if a high grade, say 21-6 with inlays or unique like a 28 gauge where big $$ can be made. I reserached a 20 gauge 21-6 with inlays of which the Cody record showed a 28 gauge Skeet. The problem with the record was that this was a letter inserted into the Winchester records where a Winchester employee had viewed a number of 21's in this collection that at the time Win had no record of and stated that they were Winchester original. That letter is in the Cody records to this day! The gun looked perfect except for a color cast on the wood I had not seen in 21's of that vintage. I didn't purchase it. I also have a 'Custom Built' 32 VR with Monte Carlo, shadow line cheek piece and 'Hession' or field beavertail. There is no record of the gun but three prominent dealers including Tony Galazan that have physically handled the gun say that it looks factory original. The wood is spectacular which is why i originally purchased it knowing that there was no record.
Personally, I would stay away from 21-6 w/inlays, Grand Americans and rare guns like 410 and 28 gauge that there is no record of because of the high price you are paying even if below market. -Dick

Dick_dup1, you are right re. might not be lunchbox gun but, they have been built ocasionally. ----- huntersdad, any lunchbox gun will look original as the workers put a piece together on the sly in the factory or at home. We will probably never know. The Kusmit boys would do some engraving at home for the few extra dollars as we did at the Colt factory custom shop. You can't tell if I engraved your SAA in the factory or at home unless you see how the guns letters. FWIW, Ken

You are all Gentlemen and I do appreicate the info.

The gun looks correct to me. It is rare that is for sure but looks correct. I appreciate the input.

Regards, Michael

People make a lot of mistakes. It seems to me most likely that the record for this gun was lost or in some other way screwed up due to human error. If you like it and the price seems fair given the gun's uncertain origin, I don't think you'll regret buying it.

BINGO!

I'm currious what drives the high prices on the lower grade Winchester model 21's ?

That's easy... it's a good gun.