Winchester 21

[Double Lab]

Originally Posted by Clark McCombe

Appreciate the responses. My experience is limited but it seems I seem to break more clays with a gun that is choked IC/ mod vs something more open. Maybe it’s my perception of seeing a clay shattered instead of a few chips flying off.
(If I truly kept score I would be disappointed.)
But this Winchester Skeet has me intrigued. I think a Parker skeet would be a little out of my price range.

You are on the right path to breaking targets Clark. An open choke will certainly break targets but won't give you the visual feedback that a tighter choke will. When you just crush a target you know you were in the right place at the right time. Enjoy the journey my friend.

[Researcher]

Originally Posted by John Dallas

I have never understood why Winchester sold a Skeet Grade gun which didn't necessarily have anything to do with shooting Skeet

Back in the day, the Model 21 Skeet Gun was for gentlefolks at the country club where Skeet was the game for the well-heeled.

Your Gun For Skeet 01 inside.jpg

Your Gun For Skeet 02 inside.jpg

Your Gun For Skeet 03.jpg

Your Gun For Skeet 04.jpg

Your Gun For Skeet 05.jpg

That early 1940s world-wide unpleasantness brought Skeet to the working man.

Winchester never catalogued a Model 21 Skeet Grade. As originally introduced the Model 21 Skeet Gun was offered in Tournament, Trap or Custom Built Grade. From the 1933 Winchester catalogue --

1933 Model 21 Skeet Gun, Pocket catalog.jpeg

By 1936, the Tournament Grade was dropped from the Model 21 offerings and the Model 21 Skeet Gun was then offered in Standard, Trap and Custom Built Grades. From the 1936 Winchester catalogue --

Skeet Gun 1936 pistol grip.jpg

Skeet Gun 1936 straight grip.jpg

[William Woods]

I requested a letter from Cody on my model 21 and the letter came back stating "Standard" grade. I called and spoke with someone that insisted that my gun was a "Standard" grade even after I told them that the gun was clearly marked "Skeet" on the trigger plate. I think it was Researcher that clarified in an earlier thread that there were grades within grades on the model 21. So I have a Standard Skeet Grade.

Mine was made in 1946 with 26" choked WS 1 and WS 2 barrells weighing 6lbs. 10 ozs. The gun has a single trigger, selective ejectors, and a non-automatic safety

[Researcher]

Cody and/or the surviving factory records do not seem to be as consistent with the grade/gun terminology as the catalogs were.

[Clark McCombe]

Originally Posted by Bobby Cash

I have a pair of Tournament Skeet’s and pair of Trap grade Skeet’s with between .008 and .012 constriction in the left barrel. Terminal Flare in the right barrel, 26” tubes and checkered butts. Superb guns. I’d like to see what you’re contemplating.



IMO, buyer beware Con Shotgun, CSMC, Standard Manufacturing or whatever the hell they’re calling themselves these days. They’re the worst enemy of Model 21’s since rust.

This is the one on GI
103162890

[Phil Yearout]

There was a fella on a site I used to frequent that had a 21; fairly early I'd guess with bolsters, double triggers, splinter forend etc. No engraving, action very plain with just the kind of wear you'd like to see on a well-loved field gun. I always thought it was one of the classiest shotguns I'd ever seen.

[Bill Murphy]

My favorite 21s are double trigger, extractor, splinter forend guns. I have a 12, but sold my 20 cheap, years ago, to a shooting buddy who resold it recently for a price I would not pay.

[Steve Hodges]

Be very careful on this gun as guns.com has exact pictures of this gun listed also for sale. There GI # is 103164595. Something is not right about this.

[Researcher]

How does the seller get 1933 manufacture with a 20800 serial number? More likely late 1940s. A Model 21 Skeet Gun from 1932 trough 1935 gun would be a Tournament Grade Skeet Gun --

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

or a Trap Grade Skeet Gun --

WINCHESTER MODEL-21, TRAP GRADE, SKEET Gun, 12-GAUGE 01 26xx.jpg

Also, for 1932 & 3 Winchester only cataloged the Model 21 Skeet Gun with a straight grip. The pistol grip Model 21 Skeet Gun first appears in the 1934 catalogs. Most of the pre-war Model 21 Skeet Gun pistol grips were capless, like my 1941 16-gauge Standard Grade Model 21 Skeet Gun --

15561 07.jpg

but a capped pistol grip was available.

[Bill Murphy]

One gun offered by dealers in PA and way out west at prices differing by $500. I'll take the cheaper one, which is not so cheap. Chokes skeet and IC?? What are the actual choke markings from the factory? Both sellers were careful not to show us pictures.