1st Year Winchester Model 21 28″ 16 GA Side by Side SXS Shotgun, MFD 1939
Sold For: $3,702
LSB#: 200724RO03
Make: Winchester
Model: 21
Serial Number: 5492
Year of Manufacture: 1939, 1st Year Production
Gauge: 16
Action Type: Double Barrel SXS Breakopen with Dual Triggers and Extractor
Markings: The top of the left barrel is marked “MADE IN U.S.A. WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN, CONN. –– PATENTS PENDING”. The top of the right barrel is marked “MODEL 21”, “WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK” and “16 GAUGE”. The upper tang and the top inside surface of the forend iron are marked “5492”. The right side of the water table is marked with a circled “WP” proof. The underside of the left barrel is marked “WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL” and “MOD.”. The flat on the underside of the left barrel is marked “5492”. The underside of the right barrel is marked “CYL” and “WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL”. The flat on the underside of the right barrel is marked “46 B”. The bottom of each barrel has inspection marks.
Barrel Length: 28″
Choke: The barrels are marked Modified and Cylinder, but our gauge measures both Cylinder Bore.
Sights / Optics: This shotgun is mounted with a silver-colored bead at the front of the rib. The top of the rib is finely serrated to reduce glare.
Weight: 6 lb., 9.7 oz.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with splinter forend, pistol grip, straight comb and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The stocks have minor handling wear with only a few scattered light nicks and scuffs. The checkering is well defined, generally sharp. There is a repaired chip-loss at the toe. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 13 7/8″ and 12 7/8″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The plate has minor wear at the heel and toe with well defined checkering and lettering. Drop at comb is approximately 1 1/2″, drop at heel 2 1/2″. The cast is about neutral. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bores are bright with no erosion.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The most notable finish wear is in trigger plate, which is mostly worn to white, and the lever, which also shows some discoloration from oxidation. The receiver has some finish wear on the bottom around the edges of the trigger plate. The other metal surfaces show more minor, scattered finish wear, some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The safety engages automatically when the action is opened. The barrels lock up with no play to the receiver. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 21 was their deluxe side by side shotgun. The shotgun’s initial production run from 1939 through 1957 yielded approximately 116,000 guns. The Model 21 was Winchester’s effort to make a quality side by side shotgun to rival those of high-end makers such as Parker and Fox. The standard grade came with select grade walnut stocks and ribbed barrels, and Skeet, Trap, Tournament and Duck grades were also available. This is a standard grade shotgun made in 1939. It has a manual safety, extractor, dual triggers, and a checkered pistol grip stock with a splinter forend. The 28” barrels are both Cylinder Bore. The shotgun is in about Very Good condition with 80% of its original metal finish remaining, great bores, strong mechanics, and minor wear in its refinished stocks. Chambered for 16 gauge, it makes a nice half-step between the power of 12 gauge and the reduced recoil of 20 gauge. The Winchester Model 21 shotguns are very collectable, sought after for both their variety of configurations and their quality as a shooter. With its nice condition, we expect the collectors and shooters to both take quite an interest in this gun. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable (THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS): This C&R CAN be transferred in California. All C&R firearms must be transferred through your local dealer OR at our Simi Valley location; we cannot ship directly to a C&R holder in California. Out of state residents can disregard this section – your local laws apply.
