Winchester Model 21 Double Barrel SXS Side by Side Blue M x IC 28” SxS Shotgun & Extra 26 Barrel, MFD 1935 C&R
LSB#: 150825DW01
Make: Winchester
Model: 21
Serial Number: 3743
Year of Manufacture: 1935
Gauge: 12
Action Type: Double Barrel SXS Breakopen with Single Selective Trigger and Ejectors
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 “12 GAUGE”. The upper tang and the top inside surface of the forend are marked “3743”. 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”, “MOD.”, “(VP)”, “1” in a triangle and “D”. The flat on the underside of the left barrel is marked with a circled “WP” proof and “3743”. The underside of the right barrel is marked “IMP-CYL”, “(VP)”, “1” in a triangle and “WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL”. The flat on the underside of the right barrel is marked with a circled “WP” proof.
Barrel Length: The barrels are 28” in length with a full-length solid rib.
Choke: The left barrel is choked Modified and the right barrel is choked Improved Cylinder.
Sights / Optics: This shotgun is mounted with small white mid-bead and a larger white bead at the front of the solid rib. The top of the rib is finely serrated to reduce glare.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are checkered walnut with a pistol grip and wide beavertail forearm. There is also a reddish brown vented recoil pad mounted on the butt with black and white spacers. The buttstock shows a few light bruises in the belly, a deeper bruise at the front of the grip and several handling marks on its sides. There are also several long but light scratches on its left side and light oil staining at the receiver. The forend shows a tiny compression mark in the center of its underside and another near the right rear. There are also a few light handling marks. The grip checkering shows moderate wear with a few light mars. The forend checkering is sharp with light wear along the top edges. The LOP measures 13 ½” from the front of the trigger to the back of the recoil pad. The edges of the serrations in the pad are worn smooth at the heel and toe, and the pad shows several light handling marks. There is also light crazing on the sides of the pad. The pad is in about Very Good condition, and is still very pliable on its edges. The stocks rate in about Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bores are bright with no erosion.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 85% of its metal finish. There are a few light marks in the barrels. The edges of the rib are sharp and unmarked. The receiver and trigger guard show surface loss on their edges, thinning and a few light marks. There is a small spot of pinprick surface erosion on the right side of the forend iron. The lower tang and the back of the upper tang show surface loss. The safety serrations show surface loss and light wear. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are clear, but the markings on the barrels are shallow in spots, which is typical of Winchester double barrel shotguns. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The safety does not come on automatically, and must be engaged manually. The shotgun has a single selective trigger (button on side of trigger) and ejectors. We have not fired this shotgun.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This shotgun comes with an extra set of 26” barrels. The barrels have a solid rib with a tiny white bead position at the midpoint and a medium sized read bead at the front of the rib. 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 “12 GAUGE”. The underside of the left barrel is marked “WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL”, “WS-2”, “(VP)”, “1” in a triangle and with another mark we can’t make out. The underside of the right barrel is similarly marked, except with “WS-1” instead of “WS-2”. WS-1 and WS-2 refer to Skeet 1 and Skeet 2, and are designed to produce optimum patterns at ranges of 20 years and 30 yards, respectively. The flat on the underside of the left barrel is marked with a circled “WP” proof, “PATENT PENDING” and “7105”. The flat on the underside of the right barrel is marked with a circled “WP” proof, a “1” in a triangle and “B”. The barrels retain about 99% of their metal finish and are in about Excellent condition. They show only a few light marks along the sides of the barrels. The bores are bright and without erosion.
Our Assessment: From Wikipedia: “The Winchester Model 21 is a deluxe side by side shotgun. The shotgun’s initial production run from 1931 through 1960 yielded approximately 30,000 guns. Winchester Repeating Arms Company ceased the main production line of this shotgun in 1960 and the Model 21 was sourced to the Winchester Custom Shop until the gun’s retirement in 1991. 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 standard 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 1935. It has a manual safety, ejectors, a single non-selective trigger, and a checkered pistol grip stock with a beavertail forend. The 28” barrels are choked Modified and Improved Cylinder, and it comes with a second set of 26” barrels choked WS-1 and WS-2. The shotgun is in about Fine condition with 85% of its original finish remaining. There is surface loss on the upper and lower tangs and on the edges of the receiver and trigger guard. The receiver and trigger guard also show thinning in the rest of their surfaces. The stock shows a few compression marks with several lighter marks. There is moderate wear and a few light mars in the checkering of the pistol grip while the checkering of the forearm is sharp with light wear along the top edges. The serial numbers on the 28” barrels attached to the shotgun, the forend and the upper tang are matching. The Winchester Model 21 shotguns are very collectable, especially the skeet and trap models – they are sought after for both their collectability (many special order options were available) and their quality as a shooter. With its very nice condition and two sets of barrels, we expect the collectors to take quiet an interest in this gun.
