doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Classic Doubles model 201 ?

Picked up a .12ga Classic Doubles 201 in excellent condition. Fixed mod and i/c chokes, 26" barrels. Marked " Classic Doubles proofed steel " and made in Japan. Anyone know if it's safe for steel shot ?

Here's a thread regarding the Winchester 23 Heavy Duck and the barrels were marked "Winchester Proof Steel"
https://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=579045
Classic Doubles was the same gun renamed starting about 87'- until about 92'.
There was a 201 Waterfowl Model

Similar question regarding the Browning BSS
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=521651

There is no one to ask at Winchester nor at Guns International in Omaha who bought remaining inventory about 90'.

With those chokes I would, but I'd avoid today's waterfowl hyperspeed boomer loads.

Isn’t the 201 basically a dumbed down Parker Repro (minus dolls head, etc.)?
I don’t think I’d shoot ultra high pressure steel loads in a 201. I personally don’t think that the locking system is robust enough to take that kind of continuous punishment. At least a BSS has two locking lugs.

Moderate pressure & velocity bismuth/TM would probably be best to use in that gun.



Dustin

Wrong on the Win. Model 201 being another iteration of the Win. Mod. 23, Drew. As LeFusil stated it is a blued frame Parker Reproduction with slightly different frame contours. Since Winchester made the Parker Repro and had parts and tooling, it was an attempt to use all of that to recover some capital after the PR was discontinued and the collaboration with Tom and Jack Skeuse of White Flyer fame was dissolved. Semi-beavertail and pistol grip stocks. They were all made with 26" barrels and vent ribs, 12 and 20 gauge, Winchokes. Pretty sure there was only one run of them made, and very few in that run. There was no 201 Waterfowl to my knowledge.

I would think, with the steel they were made from, steel shot usage would be ok.
JR

I've seen one or two mentions that the bores might be chrome lined. It seems to be a stout gun and I'll give it a try with regular 2 3/4" steel duck loads. We don't get lots of shooting anymore and I'll save the goose loads and big shot for another gun. The rice farming in our area has greatly diminished, the marshes have been leased up by big clubs, and our birds have moved to new wintering grounds.

You’ll shoot that gun loose in no time if you’re going to use factory loaded steel. I have no doubt about that. That action has 1 locking bite.
The barrels can no doubt handle regular steel loads.
The wood and action, not so much.
Good luck with it.

Dustin

What's a "CLASSIC DOUBLES"?
In 1987, when Olin Corp. decided to discontinue gun manufacturing (after having sold the New Haven, Conn. operations to U.S. Repeating Arms), they sold their Japanese factory to a newly formed company - Classic Doubles International. This new firm continued using the same factory, machinery, people, tooling, and designs to produce their versions of the 101, mechanically near identical, but cosmetically different. Most mechanical parts of the Classic Double are identical and interchangeable with the Winchester 101. Quality and workmanship levels are essentially the same. Due to lack of sufficient sales volume to support the operations, they went bankrupt after about 2 years.
In late 1987, Winchester/Olin discontinued importation of their Japanese shotgun models (Models 101 and 23). At that point, Classic Doubles International, Inc. became the sole importer of these shotguns. There were very few changes made during this changeover of importation. The late manufacture Classic Double shotguns (Models 101 and 201) do not have the Winchester trademark or definitive Winchester proofmark stamped on the barrels.
The Olin Corporation made the economic decision to stop production of the models 101 and 23 during 1987. The right to produce and sell these guns and most of Olin’s interest in the Olin-Kodensha plant were sold to the Classic Doubles International Corporation … their (Winchester’s) Classic Doubles logo was apparently also sold and appeared unaltered in Classic Doubles International catalogues, except for the deletion of the name “Winchester”.

Model 23 history
https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads/model-23-sxs-history.231320/
After being discontinued by Winchester, some Model 23's together with the Model 101 over & under were imported and sold under the Classic Doubles brand. The plant in Japan also produced a Model 201 SxS which I believe was to be the successor to the Model 23. The short lived Model 201 has a different frame design that appears to have a longer watertable somewhat reminiscent of the Winchester Model 21, as well as, changes to the locking lug and ejectors. IMO, the profile of the Model 201 more closely resembles the Winchester Model 21 than the Model 23.

The history of Parker Reproductions
https://shootingsportsman.com/parkerrepro/

Parker Reproductions and the Winchester 101 and 23 were all made in the Kodensha plant until 1988, the 23 from 1978.

I couldn't find confirmation but I believe Guns Unlimited in Omaha also bought the end of the Parker Reproductions inventory about 2002.

One thing I'll add is getting parts is a PIA. Classic Doubles SXS came to a local gunsmith about 5 years ago with broken ejectors and he was unable to find parts. I think the owner took it back and sold it as auction as is. They never had the following of the model 23 and model 101's version.

201 monobloc barrels and no top rib extension



Parker Reproductions

Sorry Drew, but you’re wrong on this one. All the info you posted does not apply to the Winchester 201. Totally different gun from the Model 23. They deleted the doll’s head extension on the 201 and moved the barrel selector to the safety but otherwise it’s a Parker Reproduction with some cosmetic changes. I know what I’m talking about on this subject, handled any number of them. The easiest marker is the trigger plate with the same two screws and shape, but also the lockup when you open one is easily recognized as a Parker design, hence LeFusil’s comment about it not being strong enough for repetitive heavy usage of modern steel shot loads. I tend to agree. But the op said it would see very light duty, so maybe it would hold up for 50-75 rounds per season.
JR