Late 21 Winchester question

[jeffery c]

Does anyone happen to know: Did late 21 Winchesters have a factory polished water table on the frame? The picture I’m looking at shows the patent numbers, writing and proof-marks with blueing in the stamped letters and numbers so the polishing occurred after blueing. I have an early pre-war one and it’s water table is blued. The question applies to a later production gun, not a custom shop gun.

[Researcher]

Ned Schwing's Model 21 book, page 40, states pre-WW-II it is a crap shoot and post WW-II the watertable was polished.

[jeffery c]

Thanks, Researcher! It sure seems like 21 Winchesters offered for sale have a very high percentage of being refinished, Parkers seem to come in second. Maybe that relates to their desirability being among the highest of vintage guns.