Winchester 21 16 gauge clarification

[Larry the Gun Guy]

Here is the page out of the Winchester Model 21 about Deluxe guns.

[Cold Spring]

I looked through Schwing's Model 21 book last evening and he has several references and pictures of Model 21 Deluxe frame and barrel stamps. Unless I missed one, all of them were DELUXE spelled in a single word.

[William Woods]

My model 21 letter from Cody states it is a Standard grade when in fact it is factory marked
Skeet.

My Parker D grade is listed in the Parker Gun Identification & Serialization book as having a straight grip when in fact it is a capped pistol grip. In addition, there is no mention of the gun having dual ivory beads when it does have. The factory trigger guard and dual ivories were verified by Larry DelGrego.

I am aware that errors can be made, but it it is disappointing when trying to authenticate a firearm.

[Researcher]

My model 21 letter from Cody states it is a Standard grade when in fact it is factory marked
Skeet.

When the Model 21 Skeet Gun was introduced, it was offered in Tournament, Trap and Custom Built Grades.

Skeet Gun 1935 pistol grip.jpeg

Skeet Gun 1935 straight grip.jpeg

Between 1935 & 6 the Tournament Grade was dropped and the Skeet Gun was offered in Standard, Trap or Custom Built Grade.

Skeet Gun 1936 pistol grip.jpg

Skeet Gun 1936 straight grip.jpg

By 1940 the Model 21 Trap Grade was gone and from then on the Skeet Gun was offered in Standard Grade or Custom Built/DeLuxe Grade.

There was never a Model 21 Skeet Grade in the Winchester catalogs, but the records and/or the researchers at Cody use that term!!

[William Woods]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

When the Model 21 Skeet Gun was introduced, it was offered in Tournament, Trap and Custom Built Grades.

Attachment 126902

Attachment 126903

Between 1935 & 6 the Tournament Grade was dropped and the Skeet Gun was offered in Standard, Trap or Custom Built Grade.

Attachment 126904

Attachment 126905

By 1940 the Model 21 Trap Grade was gone and from then on the Skeet Gun was offered in Standard Grade or Custom Built/DeLuxe Grade.

There was never a Model 21 Skeet Grade in the Winchester catalogs, but the records and/or the researchers at Cody use that term!!

The one I have is factory marked SKEET on the floorplate in front of the trigger guard. There is no indication as to what model SKEET grade it is. What would determine the different models of SKEET grade? Thanks for your reply.

[Researcher]

With just SKEET it is a Standard Grade.

Tournament Grade Skeet Gun --

Winchester Model-21, Tournament Grade, Skeet Gun, 20-Gauge, 26-inch, Vent-Rib 01 12080.jpg

Trap Grade Skeet Gun --

WINCHESTER MODEL-21, TRAP GRADE, SKEET GUN, 16-GAUGE 01 72xx.jpg

DELUXE Grade Skeet Gun --

12131 01 20-gauge, DELUXE SKEET,.jpg

I have two Model 21 Skeet Guns I have gotten letters on. The 1940/1 letter states "Grade of Wood: Regular" and "Regular Finish." The letter for the 1953 gun states "Skeet finish" and "Skeet Grade" which as I stated above was a term never used in Winchester catalogs. They are both marked SKEET on the trigger plates.

[William Woods]

I decided to check on my little 21 after this post. It is only marked with the "Skeet" designation.

Thank you Mr. Chuck for your knowledge and information in all you do.

[Bill Murphy]

I have owned Model 21s with no trigger plate stampings that lettered as Tournament Grade guns, as well as guns with SKEET stampings which lettered as Tournament Grade guns. Deluxe Grade guns are much more easily identified without a letter because of different wood treatment. I assume almost all Deluxe grade guns are stamped as such on the trigger plate.

[James L. Martin]

No photos of a standard skeet grade marking so here's mine 20ga 26" sk1 - sk2

[Tom Hawkins]

This picture is of an early deluxe trap serial 12xxx. It has the two word style.
I am wondering if the was an early script that was changed later.