Winchester M21 Deluxe Skeet

[Bill Murphy]

Tom, apologies for not responding quickly to your email. Here goes. The Deluxe Grade was a short lived grade (around 1950) that replaced the Custom Grade guns and preceded the Custom Built Grade guns. Unlike the Custom Built Grade, few Deluxe Grade guns had rounded frames, but did have the forend inlay and a more extensive checkering pattern than standard skeet and trap grade guns. The wood was generally fancier than lower grades also. There are Deluxe, Deluxe Field, Deluxe Skeet, and Deluxe Trap Grade guns. They are stamped as such on the floorplate. They are scarce because of their short production life. I believe they are only listed in the 1950 catalog. I have to add that this information only refers to pre-1960 guns. Grading is much different after 1960.

[Marshfellow]

Thanks boys.

Murph, very interesting... I figured you'd have it filed away in your memory bank. Yes, this gun does have fancier wood & checkering & checkered butt. Not a rounded frame. Cody has it started & finished February 1949.... made for Sears Roebuck & Co...... ahhh, yes, those were the days.
t