doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Model 21 Grades and Features

It's unlikely that your gun was from the forties, at least not the early forties. One of my skeet 20's was shipped in 1948, is pre diamond checkering, and is serial number 14,527. You should get your gun lettered to confirm the date. I didn't know anyone dares to create a date chart for 21s. It can't be done. I suspect the diamond checkering may be original and your gun is actually from the fifties.

Here’s 14519, only 8 away from yours.
28” “Skeet”

Bob, have you had that gun lettered? 14,527 was my dad's gun. We bought a pair of 21s in a Purdey oak and leather trunk case when I was just out of high school in 1965 and had little gun money. Dad and I agreed to split the pair so I could pay for the 12 gauge. He loved the 20, but never shot it. It is still new and very little shot. Dad got both lettered when information was free from Winchester. The 12 was a 28" field grade, #24,560, shipped in 1950. I don't understand 10,000 guns apart in just two years.

According to Schwing, the years surrounding your two 21’s
were banner years for frame production as well as guns sent to the warehouse.



I also have a pair of 21’s that like yours letter from both 1948 and 1950.
Mine are separated by just over 100 frames.
Go figure.

Judging by the serial number, I'd guess your gun was possibly produced in Late 40s or early 50s. But you have to understand that people were always sending their guns back to Winchester to be upgraded. I don't know if you can still get information from the Cody Museum or not anymore. But you can contact Pauline Muerrle and see if she has any information about your gun being upgraded.

Then again maybe the 20 gauges were numbered together. And the other gauges were separate. You two have 20 gauges numbered close together. I have a 12 gauge #19754 that was shipped in 1947. Goes to show you that the numbering system they had at Winchester wasn't the most accurate. (I just thought I'd add to the confusion). Best to get the work sheet and registration if you can with a 21. That's why I said that Pauline Muerrle has records on updates and a lot of records from Winchester if you can't get them from Cody.

I have been looking up serial numbers and manufacturing and dates of Model 21s. The numbers and the dates they were produced are definitely mish-mash as far as any order is concerned. I think we have always known that. I ran across another 20 gauge stamped SKEET. Serial #21811. Manufacturing date was November 24, 1948. 28" bbls, WS1/WS2, checkered buttstock, pistol grip, BTFE and a solid rib. It appears that the 12 gauges were a little bit more in order numerical-wise than the 20 gauges.
And Bob, did you say that that 14519 was manufactured in 1950?

For ClapperZapper...

Here is a photo of a M21 I engraved in 1992 for the USRAC. It was called "beyond the scroll gun" at the time. It is one of only two presentation grade M21s made. Also the only one that is 20/28 ga but with only one set of barrels.

Beautiful job Sam.
You can be proud of that one.

Bigger picture
SWEET