Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Model 42

Any 42 experts.Came across a nice little 42 with a 26" cylinder bore.Usually see full,mod. or skeet.Rare bird?

how much?

Cyl is a much scarcer choke.

Around here there is a fairly hefty premium on a nice 42 choked Cylinder.......

I had a cylinder bore 42 several years ago. It had been reblued and the stock refinished. I traded it for about $900.

Around $1200

I'm surprised that the factory would put out a .410 with a cylinder bore. There isn't much shot in a .410 shell to begin with not to choke it down some.

Good for skeet. 3" shell has a bit more shot.

Sqweeler: I am NO Model 42 "expert" but am an admirer.
I have owned just a couple of these and stupidly sold them for a pittance of a profit way back when they were in the $300.00 to $400.00 range.
Man I wish I had them back.
I just wanted to express my admiration of your acquisition - it does NOT come immediately to mind my ever seeing a "CYLINDER" choked Model 42. And I make it a point to inspect and learn from every one I see for sale.
I contend it is rare and have NO idea what the cylinder barrel would add to a comparable condition Model in "FULL"?
Again good for you on the fine well made little shotgun - I hope it is now in your possession.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Varmintguy, The marking is "CYL" on these.From what I can find they were special order.Perfect little shotgun for a bobwhite quail or woodcock flush.

Those are pretty rare in the 26” barreled cylinder choked versions!!!

My full choke version has killed a ton of dove and quite a few quail.

Only Winchester shotgun I’ve ever owned. Love those 42’s !

Sqweeler: I think I will try and dream tonight of me borrowing your Model 42 and heading on down to Georgia and harvesting four Bobwhite Quail then eating them!
I have shot just a few Quail in my lifetime (maybe 10?) and I enjoyed eating them and Hunting them - got most of those ten Quail with my first shotgun (a 16 gauge J.C.Higgins 16 gauge) and then a few with my next shotgun a Remington 870!
So, as you can see, my dream of using your super-cool Winchester Model 42 would be a quantum leap forward in style and class - considering what I am used to.
Again enjoy that wonderful and classy firearm.
Great photos by the way.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

“CYL” choked guns were all pre-war, and were cataloged. 1,423 were made with this choke, compared with 31,313 in full choke, 13,877 modified and 4,219 in skeet choke. The foreend also checks as pre-war type. So it is a bit rare. This from The Winchester Model 42 by Ned Schwing.

The 26" "cyl" stamped field model 42 was cataloged, not special order, between 1933 and 1951. G4203S in 26".

There were over 1400 "cyl" stamped M-42s made just during the prewar period. We do not know the number produced during the transition period immediately following WW2. As comparison, during the prewar period "full" 42s numbered over 31,000, "mod" versions almost 14,000.

So while not rare, they were certainly uncommon. Fewer "imp cyl" stamped 42s were produced, all between 1952 and 1959. "Skeet" stamped prewar field grade 42s were only available between 1933 and 1949. "Skeet" stamped prewar barrels numbered about 4200. But most "skeet" barrels were used in skeet or trap grade 42s. The round barrel field "skeet" G4209 was pretty unusual.

As for rare, factory engraved guns, some vent rib variations, and Trap and Deluxe 42s could be considered as such.

Valuation of $1200 given by sqweeler is spot-on because the market is poor just now. Two-three years ago $1600 would have been more right for an 80% original condition transition field stamped "cyl".

Edit: just noticed GF1's post. Same info, and mostly agree. Except sqweeler's "cyl" 42 forend is of the postwar type. The buttstock is prewar type. I have a transition 42 with prewar forend and buttstock, also a cold-blued barrel having 1st type rollstamp. The transition period was kinda like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates.

Good post, Sam.

The picture showing "CYL" is not from the gun I have coming.The one I have coming is 80,xxx serial number 1949 model and was told it's a transition shotgun.

Sam H: I traveled way east today to a gunshop with a friend of mine - the shop has LOTS of high end guns including a Merkel "drilling", according to my friend I did not go deep in that particular high end rack of guns.
But I did look a (as it was in the rack - the counter people were all to busy selling guns and filling out 4473's) beautiful shiny highly finished Winchester Model 42 with vent rib - I could read the price tag though from the far side of the counter - it read $9,999.99 (nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine dollars and ninety nine cents!)!
Next time I go to that shop I will take the time to get the particulars on the little beauty.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I think we would all like one of those.

VG, A high-original condition ribbed deluxe would go about $8-$10k even today. There are lots of skeet grade guns with aftermarket "upgraded" wood. And lots of field guns that got the full treatment by the Winchester Reinvention Industry. So be careful.

We are currently in a buyer's market. Decent shooter condition field guns are going well under $1k. At such prices they're worth the stretch over 870s and Mossbergs.

42s are are great range toys. Lack the discipline to shoot 100 straight with one, but have done 50s. My son and I take them on .410 SC courses and aren't giving up anything. Also fun in Fluff 12 events. Hunted grouse/WC with "mod" stamped prewar fields for many years.

I don't know how a guy can get through life without a 42.

For you model 42 guys, how much does the choke constriction vary in Model 42's? They are marked all the way from CYL to FULL, but I have never actually measured one. I have the tooling to measure a small bore, but unfortunately I am short on 42's, as in zero.