Winchester Model 21 Skeet 26″ & 28″ Full/Mod 12 GA SXS Double Shotgun, C&R

SOLD FOR: $3601.01

LSB#: 221208BG021

Make: Winchester

Model: 21 Skeet

Serial Number: 22812

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1948-1949

Gauge: 12 GA, 2 3/4″

Action Type: Double Barrel Side by Side Shotgun with Single Selective Trigger and Ejectors

Markings: The left 26″ barrel is marked “WINCHESTER – 12 GAUGE / 2 3/4 CHAM.” on the side, the bottom of the left barrel is marked “WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL / WS-2(crossed out) WS-1” and “P”, the bottom of the right barrel is marked “WS-1 / WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL”, the barrel flats each have an ovalled “WP” proof and inspection marks, the left barrel flat is marked with the serial number “22812”. The left 28″ barrel is marked “MODEL 21”, “-WINCHESTER- / -TRADE MARK-” and “12 GAUGE 2 3/4”, the bottom of the left barrel is marked “WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL / FULL”, the bottom of the right “MOD / WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL”, each barrel flat has an ovalled “WP” proof and inspection marks, the left flat is marked with the serial number “22812”. The water table is marked with an ovalled “WP”, “2” in circle and “MADE IN U.S.A. MODEL 21 / WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN CONN.”. The top tang is marked with the serial number. The trigger plate is marked “SKEET” in front of the trigger guard The forend and forend iron are each marked with the serial number.

Barrel Length: Both 26″ and 28″ barrel sets are included, each with a ventilated rib.

Choke:

26″: Both bores are threaded for removable chokes with Briley S-26 Diffusion chokes installed. Modified, Light Modified, and Improved Cylinder are also included.

28″: The left bore is choked Full, the right Modified; Both are Fixed

Sights / Optics: 

26″: There is a white colored bead at the front of the rib and a smaller silver-colored mid-bead. The top of the rib is serrated for glare reduction.

28″: There is a silver-colored bead at the front of the rib. The top of the rib is serrated for glare reduction.

Weight:

26″ Barrels installed: 7 lb., 11.1 oz.

28″ Barrels installed: 7 lb., 14.2 oz.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered select walnut with beavertail forend (the same forend is used for both barrel sets), capped pistol grip, straight comb and black rubber Kick-Eez recoil pad. There is a small loss at the right-front of the forend. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are a couple of more notable dings in the belly. There is scattered finish wear in the forend around the checkering. There is a thin splinter of wood spliced into the left of the wrist, coming up and back from the left edge of the bottom tang. The checkering is generally well defined, but does show some handling wear. The LOP measures 14 3/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the pad, 13? to the back of the wood. The pad has some shaping wear around the edges, but remains supple. Drop at comb is approximately 1 1/2″, drop at heel 2 1/8″, consistent across both barrel sets. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as refinished and repaired.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: The finish appears to be factory Winchester finish. We suspect that this gun has been back to the Winchester factory (please see Our Assessment).

Bore Condition: 

26″: The bores are bright. There is no erosion in the bores. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate a 10 out of 10.

28″: The bores are bright. There is no erosion in the bores. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate a 10 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Each barrel set has light wear from the forend, concealed when assembled, and some scattered minor nicks, scuffs and scratches. The bottom of the receiver, the forend iron and the guard show handling wear. There is wear on the outside of each fence and on the top tang behind the safety. The receiver has a few scattered light marks and some residue from the stock’s new finish. The action shows operational wear. 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 does not engage automatically when the action is opened but functions properly when engaged manually. 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: Included is a luggage case with an Abercrombie & Fitch label on the inside of the lid, with compartments for both barrel sets, the stocked receiver, and accessories.

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 21 was their deluxe side by side shotgun, made to compete with the likes of Parker and A.H. Fox in the American shotgun market. The shotgun’s initial production run from 1930 through 1957 yielded approximately 16,000 guns. The standard grade came with select grade walnut stocks and Skeet, Trap, Tournament and Duck grades were also available.

This is a Skeet grade shotgun made in the late 1940s. It comes with two barrel sets, but given the difference in the markings it is likely that the 28″ barrel set was fitted to the gun later. It is difficult to know as the guns were not shipped in order, there was quite a bit of variation between production and shipping dates for this model, with a difference of multiple years between the shipping dates of sequential serial numbers. It is possible that this gun was produced but wasn’t shipped until years later, when it was ordered with an additional barrel set.

In any case, the gun now has two serial-matching barrel sets, the 26″ Skeet barrels have been threaded for Briley chokes while the 28″ barrel set is still choked Full/Modified as marked. The gun looks like it was someone’s favorite, showing wear consistent with use in the field and/or on the clays range. The shotgun is in about Very Good condition with 85% of its finish remaining, great bores, and strong mechanics. The Winchester Model 21 shotguns are very collectable, sought after for both their variety of configurations and their quality as a shooter. This shotgun has more years left for the field, but would be a neat addition to a Winchester collection missing the Model 21. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud