From the book Winchester Model 21
 

Here is the page out of the Winchester Model 21 about Deluxe guns.

I looked through Schwing's Model 21 book last evening and he has several references and pictures of Model 21 Deluxe frame and barrel stamps. Unless I missed one, all of them were DELUXE spelled in a single word.

My model 21 letter from Cody states it is a Standard grade when in fact it is factory marked
Skeet.

My Parker D grade is listed in the Parker Gun Identification & Serialization book as having a straight grip when in fact it is a capped pistol grip. In addition, there is no mention of the gun having dual ivory beads when it does have. The factory trigger guard and dual ivories were verified by Larry DelGrego.

I am aware that errors can be made, but it it is disappointing when trying to authenticate a firearm.

When the Model 21 Skeet Gun was introduced, it was offered in Tournament, Trap and Custom Built Grades.

Attachment 126902

Attachment 126903

Between 1935 & 6 the Tournament Grade was dropped and the Skeet Gun was offered in Standard, Trap or Custom Built Grade.

Attachment 126904

Attachment 126905

By 1940 the Model 21 Trap Grade was gone and from then on the Skeet Gun was offered in Standard Grade or Custom Built/DeLuxe Grade.

There was never a Model 21 Skeet Grade in the Winchester catalogs, but the records and/or the researchers at Cody use that term!!

The one I have is factory marked SKEET on the floorplate in front of the trigger guard. There is no indication as to what model SKEET grade it is. What would determine the different models of SKEET grade? Thanks for your reply.

With just SKEET it is a Standard Grade.

Tournament Grade Skeet Gun --

Attachment 126907

Trap Grade Skeet Gun --

Attachment 126908

DELUXE Grade Skeet Gun --

Attachment 126909

I have two Model 21 Skeet Guns I have gotten letters on. The 1940/1 letter states "Grade of Wood: Regular" and "Regular Finish." The letter for the 1953 gun states "Skeet finish" and "Skeet Grade" which as I stated above was a term never used in Winchester catalogs. They are both marked SKEET on the trigger plates.

I decided to check on my little 21 after this post. It is only marked with the "Skeet" designation.

Thank you Mr. Chuck for your knowledge and information in all you do.

I have owned Model 21s with no trigger plate stampings that lettered as Tournament Grade guns, as well as guns with SKEET stampings which lettered as Tournament Grade guns. Deluxe Grade guns are much more easily identified without a letter because of different wood treatment. I assume almost all Deluxe grade guns are stamped as such on the trigger plate.

No photos of a standard skeet grade marking so here's mine 20ga 26" sk1 - sk2

DE LUXE Trap
 

This picture is of an early deluxe trap serial 12xxx. It has the two word style.
I am wondering if the was an early script that was changed later.