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I recently purchased a model 42 from a friend and wanted to verify the correct model/grade. Serial number is 32012 and it has a couple of interesting attributes. It has a pigeon engraved on lower Magic’s tube, it is heavily engraved in the number 5 engraving scene , it has skeet on the barrel
. What Im interested in is the pigeon. I was under the impression there were only a handful 7 or so made before 1941. I do trust this friend and he is very informed. He stated that he bought it from a old farmer that is no longer with us. Is this a true pigeon grade skeet model and a possible value for this beautiful 42?
Hi bducharmefordman-
My advice would be to take several well lit sharp/in-focus close-up photos of all of the engraving on your M42 and send them to Pauline Muerrle. Pauline is a former (the youngest) Winchester Factory Custom Shop (New Haven) engraver, and is probably the one best person out there to authenticate Winchester factory engraving.
She would need much better photos than what you’ve posted, but if it is factory work she can tell you who engraved it and when. She also has many of the Winchester factory engraver’s logs/journals. If it’s authentic, Pauline can provide (for a fee, of course) a hand written letter on her letterhead (typed letters are too easy to fake). Such a letter could be worth a small fortune in terms of the value it would add to the gun.
I’ve corresponded with Pauline on a number of occasions and she’s always been helpful.
Good luck!!! 
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
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