doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com No love for Winchester Model 21?

I don't see many threads on here about Winchester Model 21s. I have one that my Dad passed down to me. He got it from his father who inherited it from a member of the club where he was head bartender. My Dad used it to hunt back in the 60's, but it has been dormant since then.

I plan to get it checked out by a gunsmith, then hopefully harvest some hogs with it. From the serial number it appears to have been made around 1945 or 1946. It's a 12 gauge with 3" chambers, choked full/full. It has the word "Duck" stamped underneath it. It's in honest, field worn condition. The wood has some dings and dents and the fore end has a chip out of it. I want to make sure it's safe to use, then I plan to hunt with it for years and pass it on to my son.

Anyone into Model 21s? Anyone know a decent gunsmith in L.A.'s South Bay? Thanks in advance.

I've got 5, so I guess I like em. 32 in Vent rib trap, 28 in 16 ga, 28 in 20 ga, 30 in field 12 ga and a second year double trigger 12 choked cyl/mod. I've still got room in my heart for a couple more. JW

You have a Duck grade model 21. They came with either 30 or 32" barrels and are considered by many to be the finest duck/goose double gun. An exceptionally strong and well built sxs. How about some pictures?

I don't talk about mine much on here, either. However, I have a raft of them, want more, and love the ones I have. Been shooting them and buying them for 47 years and hope I have a few more years with them. I wanted them for ten years before I owned my first one.

The Winchester Model 21 was the strongest action built for a SxS and you should have no problem getting a green light from a Gunsmith to shoot it. I love the 21s myself and I owned a 1952 "Duck" Model 21 similar to yours for several years, but some think they are just a little too hefty and pricey to Love. The fact too that the 21 went from double triggers and splinter forearms only in the very early years of production to entirely built with the single trigger and beavertail forearm only to the end of production is a turn off for many. The one thing that keeps me from owning the higher engraved models is that the factory engraving was so much alike to me from one gun to another. Most guns I have seen have almost identical engraving even though Winchester would do just about anything for the customer at that time. They were not real good in the critter engraving either, in my opinion, like my Remington 1894 EEO grade has. Some of the pheasants on the 21 receiver bottom of the Grand Americans I looked at looked more like small Tyrannosaurus Rex.

21

When you get it checked out, feel the gunsmith out about running slugs through it. This could be a great time for you and your boy to try some waterfowl hunting. Most duck season openers are right around the corner.

For those who have actually seen or had a Duck model Model 21 in their hands, they know they are not particularly "hefty". Unlike the Model 12, the Model 21 in factory 3" persuasion has the same barrels that the 2 3/4" guns have and seldom go over 7 3/4 pounds. In pre 1950 3" guns, the grips are even a bit skinny, just like a normal Parker bird gun.

I have a Winchester Model 21 with 32" barrels, Brileys, aftermarket Simmons ventilated rib, single trigger, and JS AirCushion stock. It weighs 9 pounds. It is an old shot-out trap gun and I like it very much. The weight and the air cushion stock really reduce the recoil and take the punishment out of shooting a couple of hundred trap targets.

EDIT:

The gun reminds me of one of my Dad's favorite Jokes:

"I had a girlfriend whose breasts were on her back. She was funnly to look at but divine to dance with."

I've owned several Model 21's and have two currently. I used to covet them when I was young and finally took the 'plunge' at about 35 yo. They were out of my reach before that. I used to have a 20b with double triggers, splinter forearm. It had a beautiful stock but had so much drop.....more crooked than a dog's leg, I might as well have thrown rocks as shoot the thing, so I moved her down the road. They are really good guns IMHO, but I have sort of gotten away from them, now favoring lighter, English guns. Having said that, the Model 21 will always hold a special place in my heart and the two I have aren't going anywhere any time soon ( I own a Grade IV 20 b two barrel set, 28 in sk1-sk2 and the other barrel is a 30 in, 3in F-F both with matted ribs, and the other gun is a Custom grade #1 engraved, 20b, 3 in with a ventilated rib, 28 inch barrel ic-mod.....it interestingly says Custom built for Kerr's of Beverly Hills inscribed on the rib....a custom shop gun). The Model 21 is a very fine gun in my opinion.

I've had three 21s one of which was a Duck gun. Nice guns that I think are pretty nifty in a lot of ways. Unfortunately I don't shoot well with a 21. I like a lighter gun. I traded mine off pretty quickly. Different strokes for different folks.

Don't shoot slugs or steel shot though those full choked barrels, you'll ruin a damned fine gun. The Duck gun will require that you either open the chokes or find a safe steel substitute, which is not easy. There are people here more knowledge then I that can advise you. If the gun will work for you, you'll love it. There seems to be no middle ground when it comes to the 21, folks either love them or don't care for them. The 21 is a worthy subject for this forum.