May 8-10, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/8/2024
Ordered in 1939, this Model 21 Trap was owned by legendary shooter "Cap" John Grier, as is listed on several 1940s-dated Winchester repair orders. Copies of the orders are included on Cody Records Office letterhead. John Grier was born in 1901 and enlisted in the Delaware National Guard in 1924, retiring as a Brigadier General in 1961. During World War II, he was appointed by Roosevelt to a military commission to try a pair of German spies, before returning to Delaware, where he oversaw federal resources provided to the Guard as a US property and fiscal officer. Perhaps of even more interest to the gun collector is Grier's shooting career. Among his great wins was a gold medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris as part of the US rifle team. Grier was a skilled trap shooter with a remarkable 99.2% average on registered targets, once hitting 837 in a row without a miss. In 1979, he was inducted as the first trap shooter into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame. Grier was also featured in a Winchester Model 24 advertisement, a copy of which is included with this lot. This trap gun owned by Grier is fitted with 32" Winchester Proof Steel barrels. Barrels have a ventilated rib, double bead sights, and ejectors. Box lock action stamped "TRAP" on the trigger plate with single selective trigger. Matching checkered walnut beavertail forend of nice figure. Checkered pistol grip stock with red rubber Old English pad. In addition to a file of research on Grier and the aforementioned documents, a set of reprint factory paperwork is also included. CONDITION: Very good as restored. Nearly all of the reapplied blued finish is retained throughout with some freckling. Forend shows mild wear. Stock has been refreshed with razor sharp recut checkering. Bright bores with moderate use. Fine mechanics.
Choke
(L) Full (R) Imp Mod