Winchester Model 42 .410 Bore 26″ FULL Pump Action Shotgun MFD 1959 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,675.00

LSB#: LSB251130SL042

Make: Winchester

Model: 42

Serial Number: 152213

Year of Manufacture: 1959 / C&R, 

Gauge: .410 Bore, 3″ Shells

Action Type: Pump Action with Tubular Magazine

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “-WINCHESTER- / -TRADE MARK-“, “MODEL 42 – 410 – 3 IN. CHAM.- / -MADE IN U.S.A. – WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL-” and “FULL”. The bottom of the receiver extension and receiver are both marked “152213”. The receiver extension and the magazine tube have indexing arrows.

Barrel Length: 26” after-market Simmons vent-rib.

Choke: Fixed, FULL

Sights / Optics: There is a white-colored bead at the muzzle. There is a white skeet bead halfway down the rib.  The top of the vent rib is serrated for glare reduction.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with a post-war style 14-grooved flat-bottom slide handle, semi-pistol grip, fluted comb and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. There is a significant crack on the right wrist where it meets the receiver.  There are minor storage marks, dings and scratches. There is a chip out of the bottom of the belly of the buttstock. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has defined checkering. Overall, the stocks rate in Fair to Good condition due to the crack at the wrist.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is mirror bright and shiny. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 92% of its metal refinish. There are a few light smudge marks and some wear on the magazine tube. The Simmons rib was installed aftermarket, rather than at the Winchester factory.  The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly and smoothly. This shotgun will slam-fire as designed. 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 42 holds a unique position in American shotgun history as the first pump-action shotgun engineered specifically around the .410 bore rather than adapted from a larger gauge platform. Introduced in 1933 and mechanically inspired by the Model 12, the Model 42 delivered the same smooth, reliable pump action in a scaled, purpose-built design that appealed to upland hunters, skeet shooters, and sportsmen who valued refinement in a smallbore shotgun. By the late 1950s, the model had reached full maturity, benefiting from decades of production experience and consistent postwar manufacturing standards.

This example dates to 1959 production and reflects period customization commonly encountered on sporting shotguns of the era. The barrel has been fitted with an aftermarket Simmons ventilated rib and refinished, giving the gun a distinctive clays-field appearance while retaining the classic Model 42 profile. The metal retains approximately 92 percent of its refinish, with only light smudging and minor wear visible on the magazine tube and high-contact areas. Markings remain clear, screw heads are sharp, and the overall metal presentation is clean and attractive for a modified postwar example.

The walnut stocks show honest wear, with a significant crack at the right wrist where it meets the receiver and a small chip at the belly of the buttstock, factors that place the wood in Fair to Good condition overall. The bore is mirror bright with no erosion, rating 10 out of 10 in this writer’s opinion, and the action functions smoothly, retaining the slam-fire capability characteristic of early Winchester pump designs. As a postwar Model 42 with period modifications, this shotgun offers both visual interest and historical context, standing as a representative example of how these refined .410 pumps were adapted and enjoyed by shooters well into the mid-20th century. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids!

BF