Trap Guns 101

[Silvers]

Just wanted to share pics of two recent acquisitions - Winchester 101 Single Barrel Trap guns made in 1966 and 1967, one each 34" and 32". They were made by Olin Kodensha, the same firm that made Parker Repros in later years. A friend has a private Trap field and he'd been hosting bi-weekly events until winter set in. I've had a soft spot for early 101's for many years now, and both of these SBT's will be out at the farm when he starts up this spring.

frank
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[Stan Hillis]

Both those look to be in great condition, Frank. Thanks for sharing the pics of them.

What're the choke constrictions in them?

[Jeff S]

Nice looking guns. I like the wood.

[Silvers]

Jeff, that's so called "French Walnut" and that was the standard wood for Trap and Field grade guns on the mid-sixties 101's I like. Incidentally these 101's are old school steel and walnut, and the steel frames are hand engraved. Chambers, bores and chokes are flash chromed and they're a breeze to clean and only once in a while. Excellent guns including a 30" Double Trap version with F&F chokes I've been shooting at sporting clays. The o/u versions have mechanical not inertia triggers.

Stan, a good question. As one who's studied choking on Super-Fox and similar Special Long Range guns, I fully appreciate what Olin Kodensha did on these 101's. Similar to most Supers, there's a slight bore enlargement (swell) leading into the choke. The 32" guns were marketed for standard 16 yard Trap and mine is stamped Improved-Mod and the choke is full tapered from the swell to the muzzle at 28 points of constriction. The 34" 101 was intended for Handicap Trap and the choking is similar profile but at 38 points.

Here's a pic of that 101 Double Trap taken last week while shooting. frank

[DarylC]

PULL!! Nice ones Frank.

[Researcher]

Nice guns. I bought a 20-gauge Model 101 when our carrier was in port at Sasebo, Japan in 1972, and gave it to my father for Christmas that year. He wore a lot of blue off it over the next 17 seasons, bitching all the while about the non-automatic safety as he was used to the automatic safeties on his "ole' Remington" and Parker 12-gauges.

The single barrel Model 101 Trap Guns don't appear in the Winchester catalogs until 1968. When I was stationed at Elmendorf AFB in 1974-5 we got quite a few higher-grade Model 101s in at the Chugach Rod & Gun Club that never appeared in any Winchester catalog. I've always suspected they were test marketing at military gun clubs?

[Rbishop]

Years ago I owned several 101s and always felt like they got no respect. I owned a few pigeon grades, a waterfowl model and a quail special or two. I liked them!

[Silvers]

Great guns; back in the day they were considered a little heavy in 12-gauge but nowadays they're about on par in comparable barrel lengths with the hot modern sporting clays over/unders. My, how opinions change!

To answer a question, the ones I like are the 1966-68 101's that have the Red W on the pistol grip cap. frank

[Kimber06]

Frank, those are really nice-looking guns. Ther first gun I ever bought as new was a 20 ga 101 with 28 inch barrels and Mod/Full chokes. That was in 1972 just after I graduated high school. I was hunting a lot of pheasants then, both stocked birds on a private club and wild birds. That gun was a great shooter and one I wished I had never sent down the road to someone else.
Maybe you can bring them to Mikes shoot in July for his fun SBT event.

[eightbore]

The 32" Waterfowl model is about identical to what shooters prefer for sporting clays today. It has the mechanical trigger, screw in chokes, long chambers and intelligent stocking. I shoot mine as a backup for my K-32 and 682 Beretta. The 101, at 8 1/4 pounds, is a pleasant change from my nine pound K and B guns.

[Foxnut]

Great guns Frank. Thanks for posting pics of them. In my non-expert opinion the 101’s are hard to beat. I have never shot the SBT version but would like to give one a whirl!