Winchester 21 or Parker DH?

[Gerald McPherson]

I would have a Ithaca 280 or 100. They are not so ugly. IMHO.

[C.O.B.]

One of my early SXS's was an Ithaca SKB M150 20ga. It had 25 inch bbls choked IC/M as I recall. I sold it to a friend over 25 years ago and he still uses it.

[Bill Zachow]

Ed, winchester did make a model 74, a semi-auto .22. Made from about 1938 to 1954. Kind of a homely sucker, like the 24, but shoots good and was all steel and walnut, just like a Parker. I bought my first one last week as I am getting back into Winchester .22s. Was collecting Winchesters long before I got into Parkers. I did have a 21 in my earlier days-a 30s Tournement in 12 gauge. Too heavy like so many here have mentioned. Sold it quite a few years ago.

[charlie cleveland]

if i wanted a gun for being tough and indstructible almost it would be a sterling fox secound would be a 1940 smodel stevens or the 1950 s model....would not mind owning a model 21 winchester but for the most were always to high for my pocket book....charlie

[Mills]

I have a hard time with the prices they bring myself. I want one because it is a classic American shotgun and I could always use another heavy duty duck gun

[Bill Murphy]

I kind of detect the odor of a group of posters who not only have not owned a Model 21, but have not had one to touch. The 21 is not a Parker, and a Parker is not a 21, but they are both wonderful guns. Like a few of those who have posted, I have touched a 21, and have owned them for exactly fifty years now. I am a Parker guy, but have owned a couple of dozen Model 21s also. One 16 skeet had a messy trigger that was probably made worse by Lefever Arms and Jaegers. I have had one 21 with a loose forend lug. That is the extent of my problems. The "heavy load" myth is another big lie. The 3" 12 gauge Parker was made on the light #1 1/2 frame, so frame integrity is not a factor. Give us a break. The 21 is not an unattractive gun when equipped with nice wood. The "heavy" or "too heavy" myth is another lie perpetrated by the uninformed gun press. Most 3" Model 21s, mine are examples, weigh much less than eight pounds, most around 7 pounds 10 ounces with 30" barrels. A 20 or 16 Model 21 can be set up at 6 pounds, or a little more, similar to a Parker. The factory 3" 20 gauge Parker is much heavier than a factory 3" 20 gauge Model 21.

[Opening Day]

Bill, I still think the Model 21 16 ga has the best balance of all the gauges, it is just a nice pointing gun.

[James L. Martin]

I own and hunt with both Parkers and 21's ,they are both great guns, try a 20ga 21 with double triggers and a splinter forend and you might change your mind on how a 21 feels.

[Bill Murphy]

My 20 gauge 28" double trigger 21 weighs six pounds, four ounces, the same as most of my 0 frame 20 and 16 gauge Parkers. It is now owned by a friend in my gun club.

[StubTwist]

I don't get the Model 21 bashing either.

I love my three digit serial # Model 21 twelve gauge with double triggers and splinter forend.

It has the original factory chokes marked mod, full and nice dense patterns 70% in the right barrel and 83% in the left.

She weighs 7.5# and I shoot it well.