doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Which early Std Gr 21 fetches more $ 1or2 triggers

On another Forum there was a comment that a very early twin trigger standard grade 12 gauge Winchester 21 with the early stock was the least desirable configuration and an early single trigger with the later stock would bring substantially more $$$ in the marketplace.

Is this correct. I prefer the twin triggers.

From what I have seen the nicest ones were of later vintage and marked "Custom Built by Winchester"on the rib. That is what I would look for when shopping for Model 21.
The problem with double trigger ones is those are the oldest and the stock looks like it came from "Winchestersky Mekhanichesky Zavod of Izhevsk". Most guys with three thousand or more to spend on used double don't want it to resemble $300 double from a distance. While a lot more expensive the later production Winchester (custom shop offering) you're going to get better shaped and finished wood with higher quality walnut plus better polished and blued steel.

That is the stock, Wilber Fiske Parker told one of the Olin brothers, "looked like a canoe paddle."

Model 21s are available with double triggers and the later style stock, with splinter forends, both with and without ejectors. I would expect to pay $3200-3500 without ejectors and $3500-4000 with ejectors, depending on condition. Most are found in 12 gauge. They seem to be lighter in weight than the single trigger models, probably because of the splinter forend.

I have owned one of each and still have the one with ejectors.

My "Holy Grail" of Model 21s is a 16 gauge with double triggers, straight grip, splinter forend and 28 inch barrels weighing no more than 6-3/4 pounds. I've never even seen one that meets all of those requirements and doubt one exists.

OK
Next Spring I'll use it as a tomato stake in the garden by the boathouse

You see them priced both ways for early guns. It is a selling feature not a deal breaker to me and dealers will try to pay less for which ever one you have. I had early double trigger gun, a well known dealer told me that everyone wanted single triggers and he reduced what he would allow me for mine because it had two triggers. At the same time another dealer had a two trigger gun for sale at a premium price because it was rare to see one with two triggers. Buy low, sell high, dazzle them with BS. I found the early guns to be just very basic guns while the later ones did have a lot more modern appeal.

Buy the gun and condition not the number of triggers as a rule. There are some buyers who will gladly buy a two trigger gun, a few who care not one bit either way and some who only know how to shoot single triggers. When it comes time to sell you may find a little resistence because of the extra trigger or you might sell it faster

The truth is that I am delighted with my twin plain vanilla field gun and have no plans to trade, sell or upgrade.

I was just curious because the poster on the other Forum was very sure that a single trigger with a later stock would certainly bring in substantially more $$$.

I do not think that to be accurate.

20 gauge
28" F/M
28" IC/WS2
'Nuff said.

A double trigger on any 21 today will bring a premium. It is a matter of the cult factor and rarity.

Surprise, surprise. I agree. Case in point. A friend sold two pre-WW2 Model 21 20 gauges- both 26" barrels choked WS-1 and WS-2, ejectors, non-auto safeties, the one with double triggers and straight hand stock sold for almost 1K more than its companion, which has the SST and a pg stock--both also had field splinter forearms, non-engraved but with fine wood and checking, typical of pre-WW2 Custom shop work. Wish I had the $, but sadly, I did not. M21's are like chocolate fudge sundaes or caviar, either you like them a great deal, or you don't--PS- both 20 gauge M21's were in about identical 85% condition, to make a valid comparison on the market pricing for small gauge double guns today-