Ernest Hemingway, the writer/hunter was crazy about Winny 21s. He owned three of them, all in 20 gauge. He gave them to his various wives who apparently did pretty well with them. I've held a few, but never shot one. Some folks love them. They aren't cheap but aren't all good guns?

In the great book High on the Wild with Hemingway, Papa is mostly shown with his Superposed or a Model 12, but Gellhorn always has a Model 21.

In my sorta fascination with Papa, I have tried my best to buy guns like his. After reading "Hemingway's Guns" I have concluded that to buy his guns is impossible, at least for someone with my funds. But some of his guns are rather easy to procure. As an example, I own a Winchester Model 12 made in 1928 as was Hemingway's. He shot his until he declared it worn out. The pictures we see of him holding his well loved Winny model 12 show it worn slick with little color. Mine is too. I also have a 16 which I like even better than my 12. The 16 was made in 1934. He owned one that he gave to his son, Jack. Holding one of my Hemingway guns gives me some ery connection to the guy. Guns can do that.

Martha Gellhorn couldn't wait to get rid of the guns that Hem bought for her. Mary, his next spouse glommed onto Martha's Model 21 and liked it. After Gellhorn and Ernie split he would not allow her name to be uttered in his presence. She defeated him and she was a very respected writer. Maybe more than he was.

Amazing the stuff you learn on this site….
My father photographed Hemingway when it was announce he won the Nobel prize.

Clark
My model 21
I was going to order one from the custom shop however life / family got in the way
20 gauge
26 “ barrels
Imp cyl / mod
Excellent dimension
Only took 50 years to get it.

Nearly 50 years ago I got a Model 21 20-gauge 26-inch imp. cyl. & mod. with ejectors, beavertail forearm and double triggers, from N.F. Strebe who had a shop just outside the Washington, D.C. line in Maryland. At the time it was the only 20-gauge double I owned. About a year later I got a 20-gauge 28-inch Sterlingworth that weighs 5 pounds 14 ounces and the fraction of an ounce over seven pounds Model 21 flowed down the river of commerce. Now, my favorite 20-gauge is a Standard Weight, 28-inch, Superposed that weighs seven pounds!! And, I have a 1941 vintage 16-gauge Model 21 Skeet Gun that weighs 6 pounds 12 ounces.

Hemingway
 

Havana, 1954
I doubt my father ever shot with Hemingway, but it would be a nice thought if I acquired a model 21.

Looks like both Researcher and I bought a 20 gauge Model 21 from Norman Strebe in District Heights, Maryland. Mine cost me $650.00. I was probably being groomed for a bigger purchase. Or maybe he just liked my little pointer pup who was sniffing about the store.