Winchester Model 21 parts - rebuilding|Winchester Shotguns|Forum|Winchester Collector

Undertaking to rebuild a Model 21 is getting on a very bigTiger and proposing to take him for a ride. 

Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company bought all the tangible and intangible Model 21 assets from Winchester-Western, including the exclusive rights to make the gun and parts of the gun, and to mark it with the Winchester brand. As you doubtless already know, they don’t sell parts. 

I don’t think they could make the exclusive rights to make the parts stick but your real problem is finding somebody who knows the gun well enough to make and fit them. 

CSMC is not cheap but they do excellent work and- very important — will warrant everything they do. 

Before you decide what to do, however, I really suggest you speak to Mark at Wyoming Armory in Cody. He’s a WACA member and one of us in spirit. I believe WA has worked on 21s before and I would discuss the matter with him.at length. He may not be able to help you but if anybody can offer suggestions, it would be Mark. Just Google the Web for Wyoming Armory. 

Jeremy P said

BroncoRN said
Hello all,
I’m new to the Model 21 world.  My son and I purchased a Model 21 basket case as a father son project.  The gun has a low serial number it seems to be from 1930.  I’ve been scouring the web for the various parts for my 12 gauge, single trigger, manual safety model.  I’m been through Numerich, Jacks, ebay, gunbroker, and the folks mentioned on Winchester Repeating Arms obsolete page, etc.  Mostly I’m missing some of the small pins, timing weight parts, and shift lever button.  I’m heard about/called CSMC and hopefully won’t have to go that route.  I understand this is a pricey piece of equipment though.  Does anyone have any advice for where I might be able to find some of these parts?
  

I’m not sure of y’alls skill levels and it may be a great project for you both, but if you’re not skilled at recognizing/producing/fitting parts, I might suggest looking for a different project gun. If this gun means something else to the two of you (Like family heirloom, etc.), then I might suggest biting the bullet and letting a specialist bring it back to life.
  

Bert H. said

Tedk said
Bronco,
Lots of M21 parts on eBay
  

And 98% of them will not fit properly in the gun they were not originally made for.
  

Not only that, but a lot of parts on Ebay are used, because someone took them out of another gun to rebuild it and those parts could be worn out. So, you have to be careful what you spend money on with eBay. The parts might be junk.

BroncoRN said
I bought everything from ebay that was needed/available thus far 🙂
I’ve been using the Numerich schematic as a guide, hopefully that’s a good idea.
Luckily the fore-end pieces are all there and still together.  And I am learning alot day by day.  It is needing a complete rebuild, including barrel rib and re-bluing.  The stock and fore-end wood furniture have been replaced and I have a wood worker friend who is going to stain/linseed oil them for me.  I started out needing about 25 parts for the receiver and I’m down to 8 over the past two weeks.  So I’m sure these 8 will take forever or a trip to CSMC.  Placed at call for Mark at Wyoming Armory, he’s out until tomorrow so I will be following up.
  

Wyoming Armory maintains a series of videos on its Website. So does Art’s Gun Shop. One or the other has a video on repairing/reinstalling the barrel.rib on a Winchester 21. I watched it to learn something and it was beyond intimidating. However, it might be helpful.to you. 

If I may suggest it,  photograph the gun and the uninstalled  parts, in their present state. Then, as you proceed, document your progress with photography. If you are successful in bringing this gun back to useful life, I feel confident our editor of the Collector (our quarterly journal) will give you room to write up your accomplishment.  I’ll be the first to read it.

The last time I looked at his catalog and price list, Tony Galazan, who owns and runs CSMC, would build you a brand new Model 21 from scratch for $17,000 U.S.– partly brcause he can and nobody else can — but also because the Winchester Model.21 is, apparently, extra hard and complicated to build. I say that because CSMC will do you a really nice double gun for less. 

If you are able to complete this project successfully and not blow your head off while re-proofing it,  you are entitled to some extra stars in your crown. 

All good luck and success, to you. 

BroncoRN said
Hello all,
I’m new to the Model 21 world.  My son and I purchased a Model 21 basket case as a father son project.  The gun has a low serial number it seems to be from 1930.  I’ve been scouring the web for the various parts for my 12 gauge, single trigger, manual safety model.  I’m been through Numerich, Jacks, ebay, gunbroker, and the folks mentioned on Winchester Repeating Arms obsolete page, etc.  Mostly I’m missing some of the small pins, timing weight parts, and shift lever button.  I’m heard about/called CSMC and hopefully won’t have to go that route.  I understand this is a pricey piece of equipment though.  Does anyone have any advice for where I might be able to find some of these parts?
  

So I actually re-solder 21 barrels, and slow rust blue them.   This entails removing the rib, repairing the blocking, tinning and then reinstalling the rib and soldering the blocking and rub back on.  I own a model 21 two barrel cased set and work on a couple of collectors 21s.  The parts are difficult to find, I look for new parts, that are for the shotgun frame size and gauge.  The best place to find parts for 21s is from collectors who thought ahead.  Jack first makes some parts.  I am not a fan of Numrich unless I am desperate.  Connecticut Shotgun makes fine parts, yes they cost more but nice things usually do.  

The 21 came with three different single triggers.   You will need to know which one you have in order to get the correct parts.   I was just on eBay (you are not the only one looking for 21 parts) there was a a couple of safeties and pins on there.  
Sam