Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Model 21 question

Any 21 experts here?
I came across a dandy 21 20gauge Skeet model, 28" barrels, grip cap, checkered butt in great condition! Some minor scratches where it looks like someone had a problem with assembly!
My question is, it's choked Mod and Full. All numbers match. Originally a 2 barrel set? Special order? Common? Or?
I sent an email to Cody for the records on it. Should be interesting.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
Ed

Those barrels seem tight choked for skeet. There must be more to the story.

Many Winchester experts used to hang out on Winchester section of Shotgun World forums. I do not know now, because I have not been there in years. This is semi-custom shotgun, therefore, there were many options available (bead types, rib type, straight grip vs pistol grip, type of butt plate or pad, chokes.....)more as production continued into custom shop era making those guns more expensive to buy ie more desirable today. The 28" M&F would be very common combo on 20ga guns (standard offering after 1947) especially if fella wanted to use the gun for hunting (the smaller the bore the tighter the chokes). The grip caps changed from type of wood derived plastic to steel in early 1950s to mid 1950s. The most important thing to worry about is that choke markings match the choke constriction in the barrels and that the finish if factory original. Winchester guys are very particular about such things. Good luck with your shotgun.

Skeet was a grade, just like Tournament or Trap. It did not dictate choke designations, though most skeet grades were probably choked WS1 right, and WS2 left.

Yes, the 21 SKEET I have has barrels marks WS1 and WS2.

Understanding 21s requires you distinguish between grade and purpose.

You could order a 21 in Trap, Tournament, or Skeet grade with WS1/WS2 chokes. The result is a Trap grade skeet gun, Tournament grade skeet gun, or Skeet grade skeet gun.

You could order a Skeet grade gun choked imod and full........for.......trap shooting.

21s were built to customer specs, especially prewar. Grade is usually stamped on the floorplate.

Even more confusing, there are some guns with two different grades stamped Again, zip to do with how the gun is choked. Then there are the "Custom Built" usually stamped on the rib. Let alone all the engraved guns.

Schwing's book is your huckleberry.

Thanks for all the input. I appreciate it.
I'm still waiting on a response from Cody and I am now in the market for Schwings book on the 21!
$$$$$

Most 20 ga skeet guns (purpose) had 26" barrels. So will not be surprised to learn from Cody the chokes check out, and that it is a Skeet grade gun as stamped. Sounds like an excellent gun for sporting clays or phez.

Thanks again for all the input, comments, and thoughts.
According to Cody it looks as if it was being put together for stock as a Skeet with WS1 and WS2 chokes on 8/21/47 and Marshall Field bought it with Mod/Full chokes on 8/25/47.
So, apparently it's as right as rain.
Hopefully, I can make a deal with my friend and buy it today!
I always wanted a nice 21 in 20gauge with a checkered butt.

I've owned a handful of model 21's.

In my experience, your gun is not unusual at all. As others have posted,
grade and purpose are unrelated.

As a guide- Pre-war skeet grade stamped guns have 26" barrels, and post-war 28".
Just a guide...

Also agree that you NEED a copy of the Model 21 book for reference (Yes, they are pricey)

Shoot the hell outta it!

Michael aka shotgunjock