Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Winchester Model 20 410

Just picked up a very nice Winchester model 20 410 shotgun for my boys. The wood is in very good shape with expected handling marks. The barrel bore is smooth and clean. The metal is in very good condition. I would rate the gun between 85-90% for it's age. Serial number is in the 16,000's.

I paid $350 and feel like I got a good to great deal. There aren't many of these around and the only ones I've found online were $550+. I'll post pics when I get a chance!

There nice little shotguns, i have one i use as a red squirrel duster around the house !!kinda like a real early model 37 but only chambered for the 2 1/2" shells. Don

I'd say that's a very fair price as long as it's in good shape and not shot loose or rechambered to 3". These are a completely different and much more conventional design than the Model 37, and they aren't nearly as strong--basically almost identical to all the other single shot hammer guns made from the 1880s on EXCEPT they were designed around the .410 shell and are very "petite".

Many of the other singles of the period were made in a "small frame" size for 28, 32, and .410 "guages" and .44 XL Shot; the "large frame" was used for 20, 16, and 12, and some had a "cannon frame" for 10 guage. The Model 20 was designed for the 2 1/2" .410 from the get-go.

The Model 37 had two frames (I think....); one for .410 and 28; the other for the larger guages. It was made by processes designed for the auto industry that allowed the frame to be made cheaply as a forging rather than a casting (called "deep drawing" at the time). It and the Model 24 used this cheaper process to get a forged steel, rather than a cast steel or iron receiver which many of the cheaper shotguns of the period used. That's why the 37's model name was "Steelbilt."

I believe the Model 20 has a cast steel frame, but it may be iron. Apparently not up to the pressures of the 3" shell when fired in the 2 1/2" chamber; opens them up in a hurry. Don't do it even if you can.

Model 20s are little gems. I feel about them the way I do about the Ruger Bearcat and the S&W "Kit Guns": "Cute but shoots!"

Not re-chambered and is very, very tight. Other than light handling marks it is in exceptional condition. Only about 24,000 were made, versus over 1 million on the model 37. I like having stuff that is unique or rare. I've done some research and this was originally part of a jr trap kit that Winchester sold. If it had the box and trap supplies, it would be worth over $8,000! It spent it's whole life in the West, so no pitting or rust and it's the original blue. We're going to go out and shoot it today! Great historical youth gun.

That makes it special. Nice find.

I took it out yesterday and shot it. Really, really nice. I noticed that the firing pin would sometimes stick remain sticking out after opening the breech. I'm assuming there is a little spring that is either worn out or broken in there that I'll need to fix.