doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Vintage Skeet Chokes

So why are the dimensions for A and D different? The right barrel appears to have a "modern" backbore dimension and the left barrel a more "traditional" bore dimension? Am I misreading something?

I am just reporting the facts as I know them to be. I was not born when this drawing was made. I can't answer any question as to "why". I debated posting this and perhaps I made the wrong decision. Won't happen again!

Am I reading all of this Wrong, or was Winchester not truly the "Inventor" of the choke with a flare toward the muzzle after a slight restriction for skeet guns.

What we know:

The Winchester Model 21 went into production in 1929, but was not listed on the Winchester price list until 1931. In 1933 the Model 21 Skeet Gun, available in Standard, Tournament, Trap grades was introduced.

1933 Hunting & Fishing



Bro. Walt's engineering diagram is dated 1934.

Crossman wrote in 1936 that Ithaca invented the 'bell' choke "years ago".

He obituary in The American Rifleman makes no mention of his ever being an Ithaca (or any other maker) representative
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Ansleyone/media/ECCrossmanobit.jpg.html
I'll choose to believe him.

Beretta skeet chokes have a small amount of constriction and then a big flare at the end. They used to make their fixed choke skeet guns this way and their "European" skeet tubes in 12 and 20 gauge are cut this way. They throw beautiful patterns from 15 to 25 yards. My 20 gauge flush skeet tubes have 0.012" of flare. I don't know how they work, but they do.
Regards,
Jeff

I wish my two Ithaca Skeet guns, a 12-gauge NID No. 4E with all the bells & whistles --



and a 20-gauge Lefever A-Grade with most of the bells & whistles --



were choked like the drawing Walter posted describes!! But, they are the dimensions Drew posted originally.

Thank you for posting those Walter.

Walter, please continue to post ANY of the very interesting historical information you have so carefully researched....it is a treat to study....
Thanks

Walt's 1934 drawing is very interesting. The right barrel shows a typical WS1 configuration with the exception of the .006 leading overbore. The left barrel shows a typical .011 improved cylinder or WS2. The .735 bore size right before the minimal choke in the right barrel is apparently a short overbore of .006 right before the choke. I'm not sure whether the WS1 has this leading overbore.

Thanks Drew and Walt for info. Very interesting. Bill

Notice that the .006 overbore is present in all gauges. I sold my last Ithaca Skeet, so can't measure a real gun to see if those dimensions made it to production guns.