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

I am thinking of having my model 21 reshaped to a flat side. Has anyone had this done? Who can I send it to?

Pretty straight forward for any good Smith that knows how to run a milling machine. I would be glad to do it. Andy's custom has a good reputation for 21's, but also a long wait.
Steve

Why would you do this???!!!!!

I have been considering a similar project. Have been told not to expect a perfectly flat result, especially if gun is an early M21. If you look at the reciever from the bottom, you can see how it narrows toward middle. The flat sided recievers don't have that dip in the middle. The good part is you will no doubt end up with a reciever that is lighter than an original flatside. The bad part is it won't be perfectly flat. You can see this pictured on p.52 of the Schwing book. The later flat sided reciever is unique and heavier. This is why Galazan can't make as light a gun as the earlier M21's.

Erik, I don't understand where you are coming from. Whether the sides come out flat depends on who is working the file, not anything to do with the gun itself. Some round frame 21s have a hint of the points, but that is because that is the way it was filed, not that it couldn't have been made flat. Galazan can make anything he wants, including lighter than the earlier 21s. As a matter of fact, he is making baby frame guns that Winchester never even thought of. However, I agree with Don. An original 21 doesn't benefit from such work when you can go out and buy a flat frame gun that was made that way at the factory.

EightB - "Can't" is admittedly too strong. How about doesn't offer? G is experimenting with titanium as well because most SxS shooters don't really want a 7# plus 20ga or 12ga for that matter. I have gotten same story from outfit the Win Restoration guy (Wojohotz?) who did work for me at old Bob Lefever shop and outfit in Montana ... Mt.Gun Works.

The Gun in question is pitted rather badly on the receiver. The gun is in good condition other than that. Reshaping would remove enough metal to remove the pitting. I cannot afford a new 21 and got this one for a song because of the rust. This will be a project gun and take a few years to complete. In the end I will have my custom 21.

I will admit that I am always on the lookout for rusty Model 21s. I bought my last rust free 21s at reasonable prices about four or five years ago. Haven't seen one since. I have also given up buying rust free Parkers and Foxes.