did a search and didn't find anything on this model. What are your thoughts, good or not so good.
I found one with a straight grip and double triggers. It's choked a tad tight but I could always open them up or have choke tubes installed.
From the 1995 Blue Book. 12 or 20 Ga. 3" chambers 25.5, 26 28 or 30" barrels. Coin finish and engraved. The one in question should be a lightweight with the straight stock and should have 25.5" barrels choked IM/IC for the 12 and IC/M or for the 20 or Winchokes. 6.25-6.75 pounds. Last imported in 1986.
From the listing.
The Winchester Model 23 XTR Pigeon Grade in 12 Gauge. Made in Japan, it has the 3 in chambers, double triggers, 28 inch Ventilated Rib barrels with with fixed full and Modified barrels
Someone may have altered the stock, or an omission from the Blue Book. Mentions only single triggers, but....
I have one. It only has a single trigger. Any I have seen all had single triggers but who knows?
I like it. Mine has 28" barrels and beavertail forearm which doesn't appeal to many but I don't mind it at all on this gun. I have several side by sides and the 23 ,for my build, is one of my nicest fitting guns.
With double triggers it must be a European version. All the Model 23s marketed in the U.S. had the single selective trigger.
My canned history of the Model 23 in the U.S. --
Winchester Model 23’s -- During 1978 a flier introduced the Model 23 XTR Pigeon Grade in 12- and 20-gauges with 26 or 28 inch barrels and half-pistol grip.
1979 & 1980 Catalogues -- ditto
1981 Catalogue -- Added the Model 23 XTR Lightweight in 12- and 20-gauges with straight grip and 25 1/2 inch barrels. All the guns up to this point shown with black plastic butt plates with a whiteline spacer.
Olin Corporation dumps the U.S. firearm manufacturing business. Keeps the ammunition and the imported shotguns from Japan.
1982 -- Olin/Winchester catalogue same six variations as 1981, but they now have a thin rubber butt pad.
I've got nothing for 1983. Though not cataloged, the Golden Quail in 28-gauge was introduced in 1983 and in 20-gauge in 1985.
1984 -- Winchester Classic Doubles -- same six plus -- 12- and 20-gauges with 25 1/2 inch barrels with Win-chokes and half-pistol-grip stocks; and the limited edition Model 23 Heavy Duck with a capped full pistol grip and a blued receiver.
1985 -- Winchester Classic Doubles -- Same except limited edition is 20-gauge Light Duck.
1986 -- Winchester Classic Doubles -- The original four variations gone -- introduction of the Model 23 Classic in 12-, 20-, and 28-gauges and 410-bore with engraved and blued receivers and gold bird on the bottom -- The Model 23 Custom, a 20- and 28-gauge two-barrel set with gold birds on the sides as well -- The Model 23 Golden Quail in 12-gauge with straight grip and 25 1/2 inch barrels choked IC/M (just the same as the Model 23 XTR Lightweight but different engraving).
1987 -- Winchester Classic Doubles -- Model 23 XTR Lightweights and the original half-pistol grip models with Win-chokes gone -- The Model 23 Classics in all four gauges continue and the Model 23 Custom two-gauge set -- new additions are another Model 23 Custom in 12-gauge 26-inch barrels with 6 Win-chokes and a plain blued receiver profiled like a Model 21, and a Model 23 Golden Quail in 410-bore -- also they still have some Model 23 Golden Quails in 12-gauge and some Model 23 Light Ducks left to move!!
1988 -- Winchester Classic Doubles -- The Model 21 look alike Model 23 Custom gets 27-inch barrels and is called NEW -- The Model 23 Classic continues in all four gauges while they still have those limited edition 12-gauge and 410-bore Golden Quails and the Model 23 Custom two-barrel 20- and 28-gauge sets to move.
Olin unloads the Japanese gun business. I can shoot Model 23s fine if they are the first gun I pick up in the morning. Its tougher if you shoot something with a crisp trigger first and then try a Model 23! Even with the ic & mod chokes, the 28-gauge Model 23 Classic is the only 28-gauge I have ever ran a 100 straight at skeet with.
The 23 was, I believe, the first sxs to be fitted with factory choke tubes.
Talking Japanese sxs from that era, the 23 would likely win a contest for most complaints about the gun's single trigger. Compared to Ithaca SKB, Browning BSS, and Parker Reproduction.
I own a 23 Heavy Duck and Grande Canadian. I had two Grande Canadians but sold one and will sell this other. I put Brileys in the Grande Canadians. I had at one point I owned a Pigeon Grade XRT for ducks but found the Heavy Duck seemed to have less felt recoil. All single triggers. I like them. If the stock bolt gets loose the trigger tends to act up and I'm not sure about the availability of parts anymore. I did some very high volume shooting in SA with the GCs and they worked very well. On one trip to Columbia the shells shot really dirty, with no problems except digging out the powder gunk from under the extractors/ejectors.
I've only seen one 23 with straight grip double triggers they didn't make many of them. Was a 12 Mod\Full 28". And just a bit lighter than the standard 23 pistol\POW grip.
Have a 20 ga. 23 with 28" bbls. and had Briley install thinwalls. Has a lot of rounds through it I shoot it very well, heavy and main use for me has been clays. Friend of mine got me started with it he purchased 23's in both 12 and 20 new a long time ago. Eventually I figured that I needed to go get my own LOL.
Having actually owned one never had an issue with the trigger it is fine. The screws holding the forend latch hardware on have a tendency to work loose and shear. Even used loctite and checked them every so often but still ended up shearing 3 of them after 5K rounds or so each time. Not really much of a problem Midwest Gunworks still sells parts for them. And a few others. Don't look for the 20 ga. screws there pretty sure I bought all they had.
Last year shooting SC in Wi. half way through the course I couldn't open it after shooting a station. Ended up taking it to Alhman's and they got it running again cost was ~$125. If I recall the work order correctly a cross pin had failed and caused a few other parts to need to be replaced. What would be called cascading casualties in Naval Engineering. I didn't and don't consider the cost of repair unreasonable.
Have moved on to another more modern manufacture for high volume shooting with a SxS. But for the average shooter it would likely be fine and then some. Especially with that English grip and double triggers that is a rare bird. Really wanted a 12 Heavy Duck 23 but they only made 500 of them. Found out a few years ago that another friend of mine has one but not for sale. Things worked for me in the end however.
Someone at my club has a four barrel set of M23 Grand Canadian. .410, 20, 16 and 12 IIRC. Looked at it about 7 years ago. Because I’m known for being into SxS they wanted to know what I thought. Was not impressed. Tried to be diplomatic. CI, glad you liked yours.
I currently have two. A 12 gauge Pigeon (28” barrels with a vent rib) and a Heavy Duck (30” barrels with a solid rib). I use them for traveling guns when I am uncomfortable taking some of my other guns; for inclement weather; or, hunting the salt marsh. One of my sons shoots the Pigeon a good bit around home. Between the two of us, they have had a good number of shells put through them.
Before I bought the Heavy Duck, I shot the Pigeon for about 10 years. I have been shooting the Heavy Duck for the past 4 years or so. When I bought the Pigeon, I sent it to Mike Orlen and had the chokes opened to IC and Mod. The Heavy Duck was Mod and Imp Mod when I got it. Both guns have digested a lot of 3” Challenger steel loads in Canada, a variety of stiff duck loads at home, and have been used extensively for doves and snipe. I occasionally shoot sporting clays with both.
Never had any trigger issues. Similar to Cold Iron, the only mechanical issues I recall dealt with the fore end and keeping the latch screws tight. If the screw(s) were not tight, I had ejector issues. I found lock- tite solved the issue for me. I did manage to break the stock once and Midwest Gun Works sold me are replacement. I also bought a “parts kit” of replacement parts from them. It fits in a small tin box and travels in my shell box. Never needed any of the parts from the kit, but it is a comfort having it at hand.
They are not lightweight guns, but I am fine with that. Other than double triggers and getting rid of the vent rib on the Pigeon, the only thing I would change is the sharp corners on the bottom of the receiver. Rounded off edges would be more comfortable for carrying the gun. It would be nice if I could find/make a splinter fore end and have choice between that and the beavertail.
All in all, the guns have proved to be good mid-level guns which have stood up to hard use.
I bought a Model 23 12 ga Pigeon in 1985 NIB for $885 at a local sporting goods store and paid an extra $112 for the case. It was my first side by side. It fit me like a glove. I shot everything from doves to geese with it, using 1 7/8 oz loads of lead 2's for the big ones. I sold it when the lead ban came into effect in the early 90's because I didnt want to shoot steel in it. Got 1600$ for it on consignment. The only fault I would mention is that in retrospect it was a heavy gun, weighing right at 8 lbs with 28 in bbls. If you dont mind the weight, and it fits, go for it. These days I lean toward 6 1/2 lb guns in 16 ga. for the field. Or a 32 inch 10 ga Zabala to shoot the 1 5/8 oz steel BB's.
I have had two Winchester Model 23 Pigeon grade guns, both 12 ga. 26 inch barrels. The first one, I still own, it is choked IC and Mod. it is a beavertail stocked gun. Found the length of pull to a bit short, but fixed it with a slip on recoil pad. The second one I sold about a year ago, it was also a 26 inch gun but with a straight grip stock, choked IC and Improved Modified. It just did not fit, even with the slip on pad. Both were fine mechanically, with the only complaint being the auto safety, which while it worked well, is (was) inconvenient for sporting clays and Argentine Flurry. I really like the one I still own, it has been successful at pheasant hunting and the above clay games.