I think I have located one of the Winchester model 40 shotguns in a skeet configuration. I'm asking about it here because my books and other Winchester collectors don't seem to know much about them- perchance someone else here has one or can help me identify and confirm that this is the real McCoy.

According to the information I've gathered, the skeet model came with a slightly different forearm on late guns and a Cutts compensator- however, it did not specify choke.

I have located one with the correct "skeet" forearm, but it is labeled "MOD" on the barrel- not "Skeet" or "IC". I always thought the Cutts compensator had a choke in it, but this one does not, nor does it have a place for a choke.

So, am I looking at the right thing?

It's kinda rough going on this model- as they only made it for one year (1940-41) and it wasn't very good, either.
I've never had any trouble out of mine- and I've run three boxes through it!

__________________
Lost it all in a boat accident

I'm thinking I've never seen a Cutts without provision for a choke. Have a pic?

I don't know much about Winchesters but it seems that when Remington put a Cutts or Polychoke on a gun at the factory they did not mark a choke on the barrel. It only makes sense Winchester would do the same thing.

Sounds like you have an originally Modified choke gun that someone "modified".

I have been casually keeping an eye out for a nice condition Model 40 but I honestly have no reason why. They are pretty guns but have an awful reputation.

I had to go look up what this was. Looked familiar. Ahh, a Savage 755. A remnant of the Browning A-5/Remington Model 11 family.
It is recoil operated, too. The one I found on gunbroker even showed the gun broken down to show the recoil spring and friction rings.
Much nicer looking receiver. Doesn't have all those screws and stuff sticking out of it. Would have been an engravers dream.

The amount of choke, when using a Cutts, was determined by which muzzle tube was installed. If you look closely you will see that the muzzle tube is threaded into the main body of the Cutts.