Winchester 21
 

Thought you guys would like looking atb one of me 21s that I have ...Bill

:corn:

Pretty sharp Bill.

Trap Grade, vent rib, factory engraved, about #3 or #4 pattern, 32" barrels?

correct Bill...grade 3 engraved..Bill Faulk :bowdown:

Bill, what does the Cody letter look like on that gun? Is the engraving and the grade of the gun mentioned in the letter? It is unusual for a factory engraved gun to have a standard (not rounded) frame, but engraved standard frame guns were used in the illustrations for the numbered engraving patterns in the catalogs. Around 1950, the rounded frame Custom guns were replaced with standard frame Deluxe Grade guns until a couple of years later when rounded frame "Custom Built" Grade guns were catalogued. Is your gun in this 1950 to 1953 range where custom configured guns had standard frames?

m 21
 

Bill,
this gun is SN 7902 ..that dates it 1937..
I have not a letter on this one..
Think I will since you posed this question..
Thanks,
Bill Faulk :cheers:

nice gun bill...do you shoot this gun....looks like a duck killer to me.... charlie

I recommend you get a letter. Winchester was generous with Model 21s for competitive shooters in that era. My 1938 Model 21 Trap Grade lettered to Winchester company shooter Cap Grier, who had shot a Model 21 on a World Record five man team of Winchester shooters at the Grand American just before the order for my gun was placed. Apparently John Olin rewarded his shooters for good performance. Your gun could letter to a recognized competitive shooter as well. How did you pin down the year of manufacture for your gun? I don't know of any way other than a Cody letter.

Bill,
I am ordering a Cody letter today..
There is a web site (Old Guns).net that you enter in the serial number
and the year of mfg comes up.However,as you know the numbered frame
may have been made 10-12 years prior to the gun being fully assembled and shipped.
I will certainly let you know what my letter reveals.
This gun came out of a 100 plus collection in New York a decade ago.
Thanks,
B.F.

Charlie,
Gun has been shot very little mostly clay targets and bunker trap.
Most of my duck hunting was in salt water marshes down on the coast.
I shot ducks with big pumps..shoot two years..then replace as the salt just
ruined them..
I did shoot lots of Mallards,Woodies,Pins in flooded Oaks when I was in Missouri.Thats when you used #5 lead and could shoot enough ducks to
make the day a little longer.I have used the oars to open the ice for decoys
many a day..don't think I could do this today.:rotf:
Bill