Unusual "DUCK" Grade

[Lon E. Morris]

I am offering my "Duck" Grade Model 21 for review.

The serial number(25,xxx) suggests the frame was stamped in 1949, stamped "DUCK", and the barrels have the third barrel markings. The gun has 32 inch barrels, 3 inch chambers, stamped full and full, with -.041/-.041 chokes. This seems slightly tighter than the standard -.035 full choke as used by Winchester. The gun is straight stocked (stock serial number matching) with a length of pull of 141/4 inches over a Winchester recoil pad. The Beaver tail forend is the long version and is braced. Ned Schwing refers to this configuration on page 110, of Winchester's Finest.... The wood was upgraded as the gun was available as Special Order Only. The checkering is the 3 point on the stock, and kidney on the forend, and appears somewhat coarse. The overall weight is 7.68 lbs. and is very nice to carry. I hunt with this gun, usually reserving it for late season Huns and Pheasants, jumped at longer range. My 79 year old father has adopted this gun and shoots it very well with number 4's on everything. Lon

[budrichard]

That is a very nice 'Duck' and the first 32" I have seen in a long time with straight grip.
I have measured the bores on a couple of 'Ducks' and they all were invariably 39 thousands. With Kent TM #1 shot, they are 50 yd goose guns.
Your is a Special Order gun so a Cody letter is the only way to know the date of production and the features. The kidney shaped checkering is indicative of an older gun but the owner may have just ordered it that way.
Of course one of the attributes of standard 'Ducks' is the 13&5/8" LOP. Comes in quite handy for cold weather shooting.
I'll bet that gun is deadly on pheseants!.-Dick