#19 • The Finest Most Elaborate Factory Gold Inlaid Engraved Winchester Model 21 Extant

Part of Fine Winchesters Auction (live auction by Lewis & Grant Auctions)

Status: Sold

$75,000 - $125,000 .410 gauge, 26" barrels, S/N 25002. Barrels engraved at the muzzle and heavily scroll engraved at the breech with fancy gold border design. The left side of the shotgun is inlaid with two flying quail in gold with a farmhouse scene in the background. The remainder of the left side shows some intricate gold line inlay and is covered with profuse floral scroll engraving. The right side of the action shows a mourning dove flying over a wire fence. The rest of the right side features an intricate gold line design and is completely covered with floral scroll engraving. The foreplate is decorated with a gold pointer dog with profuse and intricate gold line engraving and the rest covered in floral scroll. The trigger guard bears the two gold initials "L.S." and is banded in gold with the front and rear sections completely covered with floral scroll. The straight gripped extra fancy highly figured 4X quality walnut stock and forearm are checkered to match the rest of the work on the shotgun. Raised ventilated and matted rib marked "Custom built by Winchester". All of the engraving was accomplished by the renowned Colt engraver Alvin A. White under supervision of and in the Winchester Custom Shop. Both barrels were specially choked by Herb Orr. Alvin White and Winchester spared no expense to create a truly magnificent beyond Grand American shotgun for Mr. Sheerin and succeeded in their endeavors. The Sheerin Model 21 is fully documented in more than two pages of Winchester factory letters. This shotgun was custom built by the Winchester Custom Shop. Several artists collaborated to create this masterpiece for Larry Sheerin, one of San Antonio’s luminaries. A major benefactor of the San Antonio Museum of Art, Larry began collecting rare Colts in the 1940’s and donated his collection to the Cody Firearms Museum. He served as president of the Texas Gun Collectors Association. A friend of Herb Glass Senior, Mr. Sheerin pioneered the publication of the Antique Arms Annual. Mr. Sheerin commissioned the creation of a Winchester Model 21 that would eclipse in ornamentation and splendor, Winchester’s highest grade shotgun, the legendary Grand American.