Winchester Model 21

Winchester Model 21
Type	Shotgun
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Manufacturer	Winchester
Produced	1931–1959 (Original Production) 1960–1991 (Custom Production)
No. built	30,000
Specifications
Cartridge	12, 16, 20, 28 gauge, and .410 bore
Barrels	2
Action	Break-Action
Feed system	Manual, break open action

The Winchester Model 21 is a deluxe side by side shotgun. The shotgun's initial production run from 1931 through 1959 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. New Winchester Model 21 production continues under license to Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company.^[1]

The Winchester Model 21 action is of a typical breech loading shotgun, commonly called a break or hinge action. Like all quality double guns, production is time-consuming due to the laborious process of joining the barrels to produce an identical convergence of shot. 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; financial troubles plagued the gun's development until the Western Cartridge Company purchased Winchester Repeating Arms in 1931. The Model 21 has a considerable collectors following as it is regarded as almost a custom-made shotgun.^[2]

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Production from 1931–1959

Model 21 grades at this time were chambered in 12, 16, and 20 gauge. The .410 bore was offered in Custom Grade only and is extremely rare only exceeded by the rare (8 known) 28 gauge guns produced. Barrel lengths were offered from 26 inches to 32 inches. The undersides of the trigger plates were typically stamped with the name of the grade.^[3]

-Standard- This grade included barrels with a matte or vented rib, select grade walnut stocks featured in a straight or pistol grip configuration.

-Tournament- Produced from 1933–1944. Identical to the standard grade except with the trigger plate being stamped "TOURNAMENT."

-Tournament Skeet- Produced from 1933–1936. The trigger plate is stamped "TOURNAMENT SKEET."

-Trap- A higher grade tournament gun with higher quality wood and a stock made to a customers dimensions. The trigger plate is marked "TRAP."

-Skeet- Identical to Trap grade, but available in 28 gauge (8 known to exist). The trigger plate marked as "SKEET."

-Duck/Magnum- These grades were offered with features found in the Standard grade. The Duck variant built from 1940–1952, was chambered only for 12 gauge 3 inch shells and featured the trigger plate marked "DUCK." The Magnum version was offered from 1953–1959 in both 12 and 20 gauge, with 3 inch chambers. This Magnum grade featured no trigger plate markings.

-Custom/Deluxe- This particular grade included a stock which was custom fit to the customer. The top rib was marked "CUSTOM BUILT" and the bottom trigger plate was marked "DELUXE."

Custom Shop Production 1960–1991

Model 21 grades were offered in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge, and .410 bore with 16 gauge being the rarest. Barrels were produced in lengths from 26 inches to 32 inches. Select engraved models were available in 6 different patterns, with a higher number indicating more embellished engraving.^[4]

- Custom Grade- Grade includes a matte center rib, a choice of a straight or pistol grip stock with fancy walnut and a checkered stock with matching fore end.

- Pigeon Grade- Identical to the above but this grade offers a matte or ventilated center rib, a higher quality stock with custom leather recoil pad, matching fore end, and a gold engraved pistol grip cap. The receiver was engraved with the number 6 pattern. This grade was dropped in 1982

- Grand American- Identical to the Pigeon grade, except the receiver was engraved with in the number 6 pattern with gold inlays. This grade was shipped with one extra set of barrels of the same gauge and fore end in its own leather trunk case.

- Grand American Small Gauge- This grade was first offered in 1982, and shipped with both a 28 gauge and .410 bore barrel set, with matching fore ends.

Notes

^ "Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company".
^ "Winchester Model 21 Collecting".
^ Schider, Dan (2011). 2011 Standard Catalog of Firearms. Krause Publications. pp. 1333–1334. ISSN 1520-4928.
^ Schider, Dan (2011). 2011 Standard Catalog of Firearms. Krause Publications. p. 1334. ISSN 1520-4928.

Resources

http://www.winchestercollector.org/guns/model21.shtml

Winchester firearms and cartridges

Rifles

Lever-action	Henry rifle Model 1866 Model 1873 Model 1876 Model 1886 Model 1892 Model 1894 Model 1895 Model 53 Model 55 Model 64 Model 65 Model 71 Model 88 Model 150 Model 250 Model 255 Model 9422
Bolt-action	Model 1878 Hotchkiss Model 1895 Lee Navy Model 1900 Model 1902 Model 1904 Model 43 Model 47 Model 51 Imperial Model 52 Model 54 Model 56 Model 57 Model 58 Model 59 Model 60 Model 60A Model 67 Model 68 Model 69 Model 70 Model 72 Model 75 Model 121 Model 131 Model 141 Model 320 Model 325 Model 670 Model 770
Pump-action	Model 1890 Model 1906 Model 61 Model 62 Model 62A Model 270
Semi-automatic	Model 1903 Model 1905 Model 1907 Model 1910 Model 30 Model 63 Model 74 Model 77 Model 100 Model 190 Model 290 Model 490
Full-automatic	Olin/Winchester FAL Model 1917 WAR
Falling-block action	Model 1885

Shotguns

Pump-action	Model 1893 Model 1897 Model 1912 Model 25 Model 42 Model 1200 Model 1300
Lever-action	Model 1887 Model 1901 Model 9410
Single-shot	Model 20 Model 36 Model 37 Model 37A Model 41
Double-barrel	Model 21 Model 24 Model 96 Model 101
Semi-automatic	Model 1911 SL Model 40 Model 50 Model 59 Model 1400 Model 1500 SX-1

Cartridges

This page was last edited on 17 December 2023, at 02:56

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