December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2023
Manufactured 1970 per Cody factory research. Manufactured as a Grand American 2 barrel set, with 30" barrels equipped with an ivory bead front sight and metal mid sight 1" forward of center, Improved Modified choke in right barrel, Full in left, and 2 - 3/4" chambers; 28" barrel set with same configuration except chokes, which are Improved Cylinder in right and Modified in left; special engraving in rib "Built for Kerr's Beverly Hills". Pistol grip stock dimensions are very slightly off of original order (original was 14 - 1/8" pull, 2 - 1/2" DAH, 1 - 9/16 DAC), and originally had a checkered wood butt, now a brown leather recoil pad. Barrels have the Winchester dovetail/chopper lump barrels and are decorated with 3" triangles of well cut Acanthus scroll, dressed at the breeches. Left side of barrels with Model 21 barrel designation and New Haven information. Beavertail forearms are numbered internally on engine-turned irons with roller releases and typical Grand American checkering and carving. Action flats with engine turning, Winchester proof, and legends. Engraved in the 21-6 pattern commonly seen on Grand Americans, with oak leaves carved on fences and gold inlaid vignettes of animals, including a German Shorthair on left, a quail and a pheasant on bottom, and an alerting German Shorthair on right. Non-automatic safety with "SAFE" inlaid ahead of slide. Single selective mechanical trigger. Trigger guard with scroll en suite and a portrait of a hound and short tang. Feather crotch pistol grip walnut stock with carving en suite with the beavertail forearms, grip cap with "GRAND AMERICAN" inlaid in gold with gold rope border. Plaque inset on toe line engraved "John Milius"; Milius is a Hollywood screenwriter, director, and producer, famous for blockbusters like Dirty Harry, Apocalypse Now, and Red Dawn. Milius was also very well known as a collector of firearms, and frequently purchased from Kerr's; another known Model 21 owned by Milius is well known as "Black Death". Housed in a leather-wrapped case with Winchester trade label in lid, wine colored lining, and fit with accessories comprising a pair of snap caps, oil bottle, cloth, 2-part cleaning rod, and case straps. Canvas wrap for case has "JOHN MILIUS / 2019 BEVERLY DRIVE / BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF" on leather tab. CONDITION: Excellent as restored. Barrels retain virtually all of their bluing with some handling marks and superficial scratches, some silvering to rear rib of barrel set (A). Legends appear restamped, as the letters are individually stamped instead of gang rolled. Forearms excellent, minor handling marks, but no cracks or chips. Engraving is very slightly softened from restoration. Receiver somewhat plum from restoration, but en suite with barrels, only very minor marks. Stock excellent, attractive, with minor marks and no cracks or chips. Mechanically fine, ejectors are somewhat weak, but in time, bores are excellent, bright and shiny, with some very mild evidence of use. Case is very good, some fraying at edges of canvas and rubbing to leather but solid. An attractive gun associated with one of the better directors of the 20th century.
Barrel Length
(A) 30" (B) 28"
Choke
(A/30") (L) Full (R) Improved Modified (B/28") (L) Modified (R) Improved Cylinder
Length of Pull
14" over pad
Paperwork
Factory Research