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[Image Can Not Be Found][Image Can Not Be Found]ATTENTION WINCHESTER COLLECTORS. For Sale is a spectacular Model 21 with condition and provenance. According to the accompanying Cody Firearms Museum letter, this Winchester Model 21, “Custom build Skeet gun”, SN 28267, was built for Henry Uihlein II of Heaven Hill Farm, Lake Placid, NY in 1952.
The shotgun features 26 inch barrels, 2 3/4 chambers, choked WS-1 and WS-2, factory ventilated rib with a Bradley red front bead and Winchester white middle bead. It has a single, selective trigger and non-automatic safety, selective ejectors.
The stock is simply magnificent. The Cody letter descibes it as a “Hand-made, Pistol grip stock”. “The fancy walnut for this gun to be especially selected by Pat Sherer” [sic] then-director of the Gun Division. The stock’s dimensions are: LOP 14 1/4, DAH 2 1/4, DOC 1 5/8, cast off at heel 1/4 inch, cast off at toe 3/8 inch, grip circumference 4 1/4 inches, 21-4 carving, Winchester leather-covered recoil pad, style 2. There are scratches in the finish, particularly near the butt. The gold stock oval is engraved with his initials, “HU”. The forearm is beautiful to match, in Skeet style #2, with ebony tip.
The engraving is 21-4 pattern. The finish on barrels and frame is excellent. They likely have been refinished but I do know this for certain. Bores are outstanding, as are muzzles. Weight is 7 lb, 6 oz.
Price is $10,995, shipped and insured. Galazan leather 2-barrel case with label not included but will sell for $250 with gun. There is a 3-day, non-firing inspection period, after which a return will be accepted, minus shipping charges, if the gun is not as described. That said, I’m confident you will be pleased.
A bit about the most interesting Mr. Uihlein:
Henry Uihlein II (1896-1997) was the scion of family who owned and directed Schlitz Breweries for over 100 years, and a director himself at Schlitz. Henry’s grandfather and brothers inhereted the brewery from their uncle, Joseph Schlitz, who died in a shipwreck on his way to visit their Bavarian home.
Henry, however, is better known for his connection to Lake Placid, his long-time home. It was Henry, through his love of speed skating, who brought winter sports to the sleepy New York village in the early 20th century. And it was Henry who played a key role in bringing the Winter Olympics to Lake Placid in 1932, and in 1980, serving on the organizing committee.
Henry Uihlein was also involved in such vaired endeavors as potato cultivation and maple syrup production, and raised prize-winning jersey cows. As would be expected, he and wife, Mildred, were also great philanthropists, donating much land, including their Heaven Hill Farm and much money to various organizations, many of which still bear the Uihlein name. And of course, Henry was a skeet shooter. Much information is readily available on his long, remarkable life.
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