new to me Win 21 field
 

Hello all. The wife and I went to Jaquays in northern Ohio yesterday to look at a Beretta 625 that seemed to a fit for her needs in a light compact 12 gauge. Gun was a perfect match for her dimensions and fit. Great price too. The 2 really nice guys at the counter had held it almost a week for us to come up. Only had 1 issue. I found they had a Win model 21 field in 12 gauge with double triggers, extractors, and 30 inch barrels that only weighed 7 lbs 1 oz.
My wonderful wife "MADE " me buy the Win for me, and she put her gun back up.
Specs are: 14" LOP
1 5/8 x 2 5/8 drops with 1/8 cast for RH shooter. Original barrels marked mod/full but have been opened to .009 and .015 chokes. perfect..
bores were .731 and .732. appears to have been gone thru in mechanics and finish. Top Lever is way rt.. Handles like a dream. This gun has been a Bucket
List item for years. I was very blessed to find this at such an affordable price from Jaquays. They always treat me well there , going there for over 15 years.
Now I just need better weather to go play. thanks . Matt k

Nice 21
I like the early butt stock with the loose sweep of the grip.
Splinter for end…kinda scarce and certainly helps in the weight department.

Nice early style Model 21. From the 1931 Winchester catalog --

Attachment 123008

The stock one of the Parker Brothers called a "canoe paddle." Schwing states they only used that style through 1933, but I first see the tighter grip pictured in the 1935 catalog. However, I have a 1939 Winchester catalog that still used the same cut as the 1931 catalog!?!

Based on the ser # 20xx it's likely a first year production. I wasn't sure of the grip style at
first, but as i handle it (often) it's really nice in feel and function . Guess they knew what they were doing for a field gun. Ha-ha. I've never had a Win 21, and the action workings are all new and different from all others I've played with. Was shopping for info on inner workings, came across books from Ned but were beyond my budget for now. thanks all for input on this. Getting this was almost as exciting as when i bought my first Parker 5 years ago.
Matt K

Drop the "Y". It's Jaqua's

Great find, is it built on a 16 frame? I have heard the sweetest 21 made is a 16 built on a 20 frame. Congrats on the purchase and your great wife who wanted you to have it over her piece, I know that one will be coming later. And I would bet she can cook too!

Check the factory build card - it could have been built for Ichabod Crane!

Alfred all 12 gauge 21s are built on the 12 gauge frame. 16s and 20s are built on the 16-20 frame.

Major league bonehead action on my part.
I have 12 and 20 M21's. The 20 is a 2 barrel set. I was going grouse hunting, and wanted the open barrels on the 20. Loaded them up, and off I went. First bird up, I pulled up on it, pulled the trigger - nada. Hmm. Maybe a defective shell? Nope. Different shells, each barrel. Nope. Finally figured out that I had put the 20 gauge barrels on the 12 bore. Obviously, the bore spacing is different, so off center hammer strike. Kicked myself all the way out of the woods

I have had more than a couple very early 21s, one a 20 that I bought for $650.00 because it had an issue or two. I sent it to Frank Lefever, sold it to a shooting buddy for about $1400, who turned it over for probably $4000 or better. One of my less successful gun deals. I now own a near mint 12 gauge non ejector canoe paddle gun that is a favorite shooter.