Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Need some tips on spotting a re-blued gun

Going to look at a Winchester 21 this weekend.

In cell phone photos from the seller, the bluing on the gun looks VERY nice for a +/- 80 year old field gun. Obviously, I can spot a bad polish job/irregularities in the finish itself. And I know to look at the screw heads for color as well as any cupping to the screw holes, them selves. The stampings should be sharp.

But what ELSE should be catching my eye if the gun is a re-blue ??

Well I think that would depend on who did the reblue job.

I would look for correct color

Wear in the normal area's

Not sure about the source but I would ask the seller too.

The seller bought the gun in a package deal with another 21 and a 42. From the sounds of things it was in the last year or so. So, I'm sure he has no honest knowledge of the gun's history.

Wash out on the lettering, and miss matched coloring. Although some older guns will "Plumb" and have a miss matched color and be totally original. Same for screw heads etc.

Please describe/elaborate on "wash out on the lettering", if you would.

The lettering would not be "Sharpe" the edges are lower in the stamping of the lettering. IE the buffing wheel cut in more than wanted. Very hard to get right, and pretty easy to see.

Can I ask what model 21? Year? I love 21's.

Gotcha. Thank you !!

Only a guess, because of the way Winchester utilized the receivers, dating is only accurate through a Cody letter. The gun is a 111xx serial number. So a rough estimate would be 1937-1938. It's a 16 ga field gun. Single trigger, choked full/mod, splinter fore end, single bead.

I currently have a 50xx field gun in 12 gauge. Double trigger, dual ivory beads, splinter fore end, choked full/imp cyl.

Should the 16 gauge be what it should be and end up in my possession, it MAY be for sale.

As you say if it's had a polish you should see it. If the polish was done so well you can't then so what.

Now I've done some cold blue on worn shotguns not worth a caustic blue that came out rather well. Hard to see at a glance but there will always be some variation in the depth of blue I don't care how good you are. Possibly somebody in it for a quick resale wouldn't pick up on it.

As far as lettering goes, I've seen some poor roll stamping on firearms that you'd think deserve better.

Make sure the rib rings true. 21 ribs like to come loose and it’s not a cheap fix

Darned thing followed me the entire 127 miles home...………...…..

Rib seems to be A-OK.

Let's see it!

Best I can do on short order. Lighting not the best in here.

Missing something?

Uhhhhhhhhhh…………. ??

Missing some dead Benjamins that I had when I got up this morning...………......

Forend Iron

Yes the Benjamin's too

Nope. Gun's complete. Maybe the lighting, or lack thereof.

Ah yes much better.