Model 21, Badge of Honor
 

Not afraid nor am I repulsed

https://i.imgur.com/YjgJEH6.png

That's what it's all about. Learn to live with it, like the rest of us have for ninety some years.

Isn't this fairly common with the Model 21?

Not sure what the statement is about. Like Alfred asked, is this akin to an air cooled 911 leaking oil? The garage stain is just fine with us?

Yes, the floorplate on a Model 21 becomes tarnished on a regular basis. It is a "Badge of Honor" because it proves originality of finish, because a refinished floorplate somehow does not show this kind of tarnish.

And there are a lot of them out there...

The floor plate seems to be the weak link in the blueing process(es).
Rust blueing for barrels, Machine (charcoal or carbonum) blueing for frames, trigger plate and trigger guard. Small parts were niter blued.

As Mr. Murphy stated, it's a pretty good indicator that the the metal finishes are original.
IMHO, with only 30,000 of these fine doubles produced, far too many have been ruined by the likes of CSMC
in their attempt to whiz and transform them into "like brand new and virtually unfired" guns. Philistines!

An admirable, original condition, pre war 16 gauge Vent Rib Trap Grade Skeet (G2155B)
whose checkered butt has not been "erased" with a red pad.

https://i.imgur.com/djjoNbz.png

Andy...exactly!

Kevin McCormack and I put on a "Model 21" display at the Baltimore Show some years back. We won an award for that display. The hit of the display was a Camalier and Buckley cased Model 21 cutaway, number 150, with a prototype snap on forend and earliest single trigger. Kevin restored and refitted the case, which is beautiful. Another hit was a dedicated Model 21 salesman's album with entries back to 1930 up to the 1960 introduction. I remember catering the liquor for Mrs. Camalier's daughter's wedding. They are a prominent Washington D.C. family and owners of a very upscale gift and leather emporium. The Camalier case is about the size of a computer case. I think Kevin may have pictures of the display.

Bill really won the award with his great guns and the C&B cased cutaway display, so I sent the trophy home with him. Don't know if I have pics of that year's display, will have to go back though my photo archives. The salesman's album was awesome; samples of stuff I never saw or heard of, all specific to the M21. Thanks, Bill!

Now Kevin, I for one would really like to see those images if they still exist.