No Checkering on Stock?

[kl1450]

I'm researching for my 1st model 21 purchase and have come across an early 31-32 vintage 12ga./ dbl trigger/ extractor/ 28" in really good shape.
My questions are (and concerns) Cody letter states and stock dims. match including white line recoil pad but stock has NO checkering. Bt forearm wood matches and has checkering. Should S/N be factory marked on stock and should the no checkering be a red-flag for a probable restock? I have not seen another M21 with this factory combination.
Thanks for any assistance.
-KL

[budrichard]

The lack of checkering and the whiteline recoil pad should be evidence of non original work. Early M21's were built for stock and didn't come with recoil pads but Winchester butt plates. I don't even think that the typical white line recoil pad was even a thought in 1931. If you could Post a copy of the Cody letter for this gun, I would interested in reading it.
I don't believe I have ever seen a white line recoil pad come on a factory Win M21, the red Winchester marked pads all have black spacers.
A picture would also help especially of the stock.
But you are talking about a early M21 and if the price/condition is right, so what. It's probably refinished also.
Lastly, don't let the allure and $$ from resale get in the way of prudance and good judgement. Upgrading or returning to factory specs is usually costly. Good luck!-Dick

[kl1450]

Pics from Cody Letter

[kl1450]

San Checkering stock Pics

[kl1450]

Curious of the Cody order and inspection dated 1948, Is this a repair or the actual sale date for a 3-digit s/n?
-KL

[budrichard]

Well certainly by 1948, the White Line Pad was available and it certainly looks like whether the M21 was redone or original, the pad came out of Winchester. I can't read the factory document at higher magnification as it breaks down, to try and decipher the factory order sheet. The forend with the kidney style checkering is certainly of the 1948 period and the wood on the butt stock looks like Winchester M21 wood but unless one can ascertain that the gun was ordered that way, then for some reason one may assume it was removed.
It would take an in hand inspection by someone familiar with Winchester M21's to give an opinion on whether the gun had been refinished.
In any event, certainly an interesting M21! Thank for the pics.-Dick

[M&M]

I have very little experience with Model 21s, but I have been comparing your pictures with some in Ned Schwing's book.

It appears to me, the barrel flat picture has the s/n in the same place and s/n 160 described as a"very early" gun. Also, there is a triangle shape described as a "pre-war" inspection mark. On the factory document, I wonder when and who made the notes concerning serial numbers, dates, and number of guns made in 1932?

Could it be this 1932 gun was returned to Winchester in 1948 to be restocked to the present condition, prompting the dates on the factory letter?

[cartod]

IMO the pistol grip extends to low for it to be factory....take the screw out of the trigger guard and take a photo of the serial no. I'd bet anything that aint factory. Also the screw on the uppper tang shows to be out of time as if the gun has been redone.

[cartod]

This one had me thinking for a while, I think (Im no expert) that it was a special order gun that may have actually been a held back double trigger gun. I am pretty sure Winchester stamped the serial no. on the frames and then put them asside to be assembled. Being that it was custom ordered (as stated in letter) could'nt this be possible? Is the grip cap a factory winchester? I know its been a while since this thread started, but I have been curious to know what else you have found out?