model 42 skeet question

toad67

March 06, 2012 10:26

Heard 3rd hand that a friend of a friend has a model 42 skeet for sale. He says it is a skeet gun and has a rib on it with a 4 digit serial #. Am at work and have no reference books with me. Planning to try and look at it tonight or tomorrow night. I am trying to get a head start on figuring out what it is. For some reason my brain is telling me that 4 digit 42's shouldn't have a rib and they should be 2.5" chamber. Any thoughts on what they should/not have? Thanks.

Todd

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  tsr1965

  March 06, 2012 14:43

  There has been a recent discussion on this very subject, on this forum. If you use the search engine, you should be able to find it. Very likely it could be a Simmons rib, and not installed at the factory.
  
  Here is the link.
  
  http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=549829&SearchTerms=model,42,
  
  Best

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  Bert H.

  March 06, 2012 15:40

  Is it a Solid rib or a Vent rib?
  
  The Model 42 was offered with a 3" chamber right from the begining of production. In fact, the early production Skeet guns were all made with a 3" chamber until March of 1935 when the 2-1/2" chamber was introduced.
  
  Solid ribs were authorized on September 15th, 1933 and listed in the 1934 catalog. The Winchester Special Ventilated Rib was introduced in 1954. Any Model 42 that was manufactured before 1954 with a Vent rib is 99.99% likely to not be factory original.

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  toad67

  March 07, 2012 06:11

  Thanks TSR and Bert! I went home last night and did some research and you guys are correct. When I was thinking of rib/non ribbed I was confusing the solid with the vent model. Still trying to set up a time to go look at it. Will keep you posted. Thanks.
  
  Todd

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  toad67

  March 07, 2012 10:19

  So I finally got some pics from him. The gun is a 4 digit skeet gun with a vent rib. So as Bert mentioned it is obviously not original. The gun is in pretty decent condition, 80% or so. How would the rib affect the value? Since I am going to have to drive a ways to his house I would like to buy it while I'm there if I decide and I'd like to have a fairly good idea of it's value if at all possible before I get there. I realize that w/o pics this is a tough question to answer but an odd ball like this doesn't come up all that often. Thanks.
  
  Todd

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  Larry Degel

  March 31, 2012 10:07

  The model 42's are super sweet little shotguns. In my opinion, the Simmons ribs are as nice as the factory ribs. With this being an "80%" gun; it's value as a "collector" piece is nominal whether with a factory or Simmons rib. If the price is low; buy it.

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  thorhammer

  April 01, 2012 14:03

  I recently sold my Model 42, had a plain barrel in 85% condition.
  
  I received 1600.00 for it. It was made in 1953 with a 3" chamber.
  
  It would be best to ask the person what they're expecting and see how
  
  far apart you are.
  
  Good luck, Thor.

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