Winchester Model 21 shotgun

[rchall]

I would like to know what an excellent condition Win. Model 21
skeet gun would be worth on today's gun market. This gun looks
almost new and has the skeet chokes WS1 and WS2. Not sure
of barrel length, probably 26 or 28" and fitted with one of the
original red solid Win. recoil pads. Would like to make a fair offer
to the seller when and if they decide to sell it.

 

[Joe Kent]

If I am buying , at least $50. to $75. and if I am selling, somewhere between $5500. and $7500. depending on absolute condition.

 

[rchall]

Now that's sound advice in my book! Hope he'll take $75 and
I might try to beat him down to $50!!

 

[s&wchad]

$5,000-$6,000 for a high condition Model 21 Skeet gun with 26" barrels (G21B), a bit more with 28" barrels. Add several thousand if it has a vent rib. FYI, most 21 Skeet guns originally had a checkered butt. Factory letters are available.

 

[Joe Kent]

Chad, it is "way cool" that when a certain gun is discussed , you seem to have a superb example.

 

[s&wchad]

I don’t have enough guns, but I have some. You will notice, when cool cars and motorcycles are discussed, I’m nowhere to be found.

 

[rchall]

He told me that he had ordered it with the pad installed at
the factory so its original to the gun.

 

[s&wchad]

He told me that he had ordered it with the pad installed at
the factory so its original to the gun.

Trust but verify.
Galazan Recoil Pad Grind to Fit Winchester Patent-Date Style 5-1/2" x 1-7/8" x 7/8" Rubber Red - MidwayUSA

 

[Joe Kent]

rchall, heed Chad's advice, I along with any number of my friends have used Galazan's pad on Winchesters that had white line pads or the original pads had crushed or otherwise had been ruined.

 

[gregintenn]

I'd trade my car for one...and give some money to boot!

 

[rchall]

I do know for a fact that the pad is original from the factory as he
said he ordered the gun new from Winchester back in the 40's and
he is the original owner and had never modified it in any way since
the day he received it. It has a solid rib, no vent rib. He ordered it
along with a Model 70 Super Grade 30-06 at the same time. I did
buy the 70 about 10 years ago along with a Model 12 20 ga. he
wanted to dispose of. He passed away about a month ago and am
not sure what his wife is going to do with the 21, although she knows
I am interested in buying it. Don't know if his kids or grandkids
will want to keep it in the family. Will find out soon.

 

[2152hq]

Excellent advice to verify the configuration as factory original with a letter if available. It should list the pad and all the specs for the gun. A 'lettered' Winchester is always appreciated when it comes to re-sale time.

An original pad could have been the common 'Winchester', or they would install other brands on request like Jostam, Noshoc, Hawkins, ect.

Leather covered in 3 styles was available also.

Those red rubber repro Winchester pads have a small difference in the lettering from an original,,a period(.) after the day in the date where as the originals did not have any period or comma IIRC.
I heard that a new run of the repros may have been made to eliminate that small difference but don't know if it was done.

BTW repros of most of the other old brand recoil pads that were available then are also on the market now.

Remember a factory letter only states that a gun with a certain description/ser# left the factory. It in no way verifys that the one in your hands is that one or that what you're looking at is original (finish, pad, parts, etc).

 

[leswad]

Is this the kind of pad it has. Mine was not able to be lettered but even with out the letter it is still a hell of a gun for something that was built 75 years ago!

 

[s&wchad]

You’re betting $500 to $1000 it’s correct (maybe more), so I hope you‘re right. Winchester factory letters are generally not available for guns after about 1906, but the Model 21 final inspection reports are available for most serial numbers. A contributing member of the Cody Firearms Museum can phone in for the information and get a “not a letter” fax sheet. Anyone can purchase a letter and it’s a good idea when a non-original configuration can reduce the value by enough to make you cry.

I was worried about the forearm on the gun in my photos because the beavertail sides seemed too high on the barrels, but the report mentioned “forarm high” under remarks.

I would be equally skeptical about a recoil pad and insist on a letter (unless it was so cheap it didn’t matter… like $3500 or less).

 

[Bullet Bob]

"It has a solid rib, no vent rib"


Thank goodness! Vent ribs may bring a premium, but they're heck to clean on a SXS, and personally they give me the heebie-jeebies.

 

[rchall]

Yeah leswad, it is one of the solid Win. pads with the 1922
date on it. The serial number on the gun is in the 13xxx range
but I know that doesn't tell when the gun was made or shipped.
If I get a chance to buy it I will definitely try to get a letter on it.