Make: Winchester
Model: 42, Skeet Grade
Serial Number: 44891
Year of Manufacture: 1941, 39 barrel date.
Gauge: .410 Bore, 3" Shells
Action Type: Pump Action with Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 26", Solid Rib
Choke: Skeet, fixed.
Sights / Optics: There is a silver colored bead at the front of the rib. The top of the receiver has a flat, serrated groove for an aiming plane. The top of the rib is finely serrated for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece checkered walnut with extended slide handle, straight grip, and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The stocks have minor handling wear with some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is no notable damage. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 14" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has minor wear, mostly around the edges, with well defined checkering and lettering. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9+/10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The majority of the balance of the finish is in normal operational wear on the bottom-sides of the barrel, magazine tube, action bar, bolt and lifter. There is some handling wear on the bottom of the barrel extension behind the indexing arrow and on the left behind the barrel. There are some scattered minor marks and infrequent spots of minor oxidation, most notable on the magazine bracket. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly and smoothly. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 42 Skeet Grade .410 bore pump action shotgun with solid rib barrel. It has a receiver numbered in early 1941 with a 1939 dated barrel, not uncommon for less popular configurations. The gun has a 26" barrel with a solid rib, checkered extended slide handle and scarce straight grip stock. The Model 42 was the first pump shotgun specifically designed for the .410 chambering and resembles its larger cousin the Model 12. This is a classic and classy Skeet gun, slim and fast-handling. It appears to have seen gentle use over its life, remaining in Very Good-plus condition with a great bore, mechanics, and much of its original metal finish. This shotgun is sure to find a spot with a shooter who can appreciate a quality vintage Winchester as a shooter or with a collector who needs a 42 Skeet in their safe alongside their Model 12s and '97s. Please see our photos and good luck!
