doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Model 21 advice Please

I'm looking at buying a 21 and wondered if there might be any resident experts here. I have the seral number which is 168XX and want to know how to date it. I have contacted the Cody Museum too. But are there certain tricks of the trade to know what to look for in these guns? I want to shoot it, but also want to collect it too. Also want to know valuation techniques

check in the Blue Book, there is information about price and serial#

Not a great sorce for either.

The frame was made in 1940, but the total gun might have been completed from an few weeks to several years later. How it is set up will help determine the value. the gauge, barrel length, chokes, Grade and markings.

Start by reading Winchester's Finest The Model 21 by Ned Schwing.

I also have a M 21 Serial number slightly after yours which frame dated 1941.However after receiving the factory letter from Cody it wasn't actually shipped until July 1947.
There is also a fairly complete article in the Shooting Sportsman by Mr. Schwing of Jan-Feb 1998 which would also be helpful. Lots of study and browsing should be done before purchasing so that you will know as much as possible when you make the purchase.

If interested, I have a like new hard cover copy of Schwing's book available for $100. Contact me at jdallas1@msn.com if interested. Thanks.

Can someone at least give me a general assessment of the grading platform? Is there markings on the guns that indicate grade? Or what is it to look for? The gun I'm looking at is pretty clean. Its fancier than some I have seen but plainer than the fancy ones I've seen. The wood has figure but not any fluer dliese stuff or what not. The wood has a marble to it. And no fancy engraving on the metal. It looks to be middle of the road. Checking chokes seems like it ccould tell part of the story no?

Price is 5 grandish

The tag price eliminates "graded" or "Custom-built...." guns. The following grades remain: Standard or Field Grade, Tournament Grade, Trap Grade, Skeet, Duck, Deluxe Grade, Magnum. The first place to look is the trigger plate as some will be clearly marked: "Deluxe", "Duck" (pre-1940 3" guns were not marked "Duck"), "Skeet", or "Trap" and Field Grade will have no designation.
Do you know why it's called Model 21 and the first assembled piece is #2167? The guy who assembled the gun that day was 21 years six months and seven days old!
PS. What you probably looking at is Standard Grade. Now the only things left to asses are: originality of wood, cold blue of barrels, position of adjustable screw, and originality of chokes and chambers. You would not want 3.5" Model 21 that's for sure.

Jigman,
Post a picture if possible and we can assess it. I paid 5000
for my nice 30" Standard model and that is normal if it is clean.