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

Picked up this 2 barrel case in a trade a while back.

GaryW, You have some very beautiful Model 21's. The engraving on your 16b Ulrich gun really toots my horn and I see the gun will 'collect' quail pretty well too. :-)

J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. and J. Stevens Arms Co. built many more thousands of doubles with chopper lump barrels Than Winchester ever thought about.

They are often heavy if we try to compare them to "game gun" norms. Rocketman's MOI database demonstrates they can be every bit as fast as game guns, depending on configuration. My 20s are in the 6.5-6.75# range. A friend has a 6# 6oz 16 skeet. I have killed lots of birds with 20 and 12 ga M-21 skeets. I still think they make wonderful grouse/WC guns for those able to carry them all day.

That weight thing bothers some who think it silly to carry a 20 that weighs more than a "proper" 12. They forget that a B&P 1 oz 20 does as well in the real world as loads for which the 2.5" 12 is suited. You must get past not having a "square load" - an advantage that resides mostly between the ears given modern loads.

As range guns they are very nice, durable, and fairly comfortable. I wish I owned a trap, as the ones I've tried made me look decent.

The 21 SST is good, but can act up. It is particularly sensitive to problems with bedding at the head. Tony fixed one of mine and it now works perfectly. Have a DT-ej skeet 20, too. I like it just fine.

21 ribs can loosen, as can forend lugs.

Sam

Gary, does this gun have factory wood? Guessing this light a gun has an ample stock cavity?

If I wanted to carry my 16 for woodland grouse, boring wood from the stock and switching to a lightweight pad could get the weight under 6-1/2 lbs. But it's just right for me now for pheasants. Maybe that will change when I get into my 70s.

Jay

Researcher,

The model 21 chopper lump is enhanced by dovetailing the two barrels together. Other chopper lump doubles using the dovetail were the BSA, the French Ideal and possibly some Pieper models.

What I find interesting about the model 21 is that it lasts and lasts despite not being "fitted on the circle" and not having the much praised Purdey style underbolt.

Sounds like you're correcting buzz, but production volume doesn't pertain to what he meant. There weren't many 21s made, period. Pointing out the Stevens as one other example (with American-made as a qualifier -- guns available to most American buyers) pretty much confirms "very few".

Jay

Thx Jay, but I will bow to Researcher's superior knowledge on the subject. He made a valid point of which I'm sure many people were/are unaware.....including me.

That 16ga. 21 has factory wood. Serial numbers on the wood and fore end iron match the receiver serial number. It's an early gun with Winchester red pad. And thanks for the compliments...the 16 ga. Ulrich engraved gun now belongs to my lifelong shooting buddy.

This gun is a 20b Grade IV, Custom built magnum field gun, 2 barrel set, 30" F/F and 28" SkI SII, with A-carved wood, sold in 1954 to Mr. J.T. Boone who oddly may have been an executive with the Mossberg shotgun corporation. [img:center][/img]