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!

[Canuck]

Had one many years ago in a 32". It was a nice shooting gun but a bit flat shooting, more along the lines of a field gun 50/50. A fellow traded it to me along with a Mec loader and about 5000 rds worth of conponents for a Browning Bar 308 I had for sale.
I had a few other 101's at the time, a 101 Waterfowler sporting 32" winchoke barrels and a Ducks Unlimited 50th Anniversary(#65/145) and this 28ga sporting 26" IC/M barrels which I sold 34 years ago and this fall found it's way back to me as a gift!!

[loggy]

I owned a 101 when I was in college. I hunted a lot for pheasants and waterfowl. I went a whole season without not killing a bird I shot at. I will admit it sometimes required the second barrel. It took more luck than skill. And My muscle memory has forgotten much of what it once knew.

[Randy G Roberts]

Way back in the day I was really in to the Win 101 and 23 models. Shot them a bunch and always enjoyed them. Collected them for a number of years. One day a Gent from down South that I had sold several guns to over the years offered me XX amount for all of them. I don't own a single 101 or 23 today. One that I really miss was a 101 Field grade 20 with 30" barrels choked F/F with 3" chambers that was an early red letter gun with the red/black plaid box. Everything about it was perfect including the box and paperwork and it had unusually great wood for a 101 Field. Not sure why I miss it as I never shot it. It was just plain cool.
Frank, I may still have that 101 sign you can partially make out in the pic. If I do have it and you have interest you can have it. Just le t me know and I can check.

[DarylC]

I had a model 23 light duck which had so much right hand cast that I really struggled to be consistent with it. I ended up trading it for a VHE skeet 20 straight up. The 23 was a nice gun and if I ever run across another at a good price I'd consider adding it to the flock.