Winchester 21

[Old and Reliable]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

It was a confusing question that morphed into a discussion of waterfowl guns. That's OK with me. Anyone who doesn't own a #2 or #3 frame Parker, a Model 21 Duck, and a Super Fox, should go shopping.

-- IMO- the M21 is like a Stevens 311 with ejectors and a very good single trigger- all way heavy for their gauge. Best scaled smaller gauged doubles to frame and balance- imo again- the Phila AH Fox series.

A former grouse hunting pal has a M21 20 made in 1939 26" WS-1 and WS-2, ejectors, double triggers (yea!!) straight grip, small beavertail, but it weighs a even 15 ounces more than my 1936 Savage Utica 20 bore Sterly with 28" barrels, DT and ejectors. As legs kill grouse, after a full day's trek in the coverts, a difference of about one lb. adds up, especially as we age.

I once owned a 12 HE 32" Full and Extremely Full-but at the same aprox weight as a M-1 Garand, learned to love my 8 lb. Smith with 32" VR barrels even more. In a duck/goose gun, where you are not walking afield all day, the extra weight, providing the balance and proper gun fit is extant, no big deal- M21's are "Hell for Stout", but I prefer Parkers and Smiths- and the laws of supply/demand re: pricing- fewer M21's even made than Parker, Smith and Ithacas-

[Bill Murphy]

In answer to the original poster, we should own and enjoy both Parkers and Model 21s. They are wonderful guns for birds and waterfowl. I have had Model 21 20 gauges that weighed the same, to the ounce, as 20 and 16 gauge 0 frame Parkers. We have to look at the individual gun to evaluate it's suitability for certain uses.