The accompanying factory letter provides the following information about this shotgun as obtained from the factory records as well as order sheets kept at the Cody Firearms Museum. The shotgun was originally ordered on April 5, 1948 (order number 2-727A) for Charles M. Knight of San Francisco, California, in the following configuration: deluxe grade skeet, 28 inch, vent rib barrel in 20 gauge with Winchester skeet 1 (rt.), Winchester skeet 2 (lt.), selective ejector, Bradley red bead front sight, and Winchester white metal middle sight, deluxe interchangeable 28 inch vent rib barrel in 28 gauge with Winchester skeet (rt.), Winchester skeet (lt.), selective ejection, Bradley red bead front sight, Winchester white metal middle 94B sight and less forearm, non-automatic safety, single trigger, pistol grip stock with checkered bare butt, beavertail forend, 1 ½ inch pitch, 14 inch length of pull (including pad), 2 ½ inch drop at heel, 1 7/16 inch drop at comb, no. 6 engraving and 4 lbs. trigger pull. Work started on May 25, 1948, and several changes were made to the order: Winchester recoil pad added, 2 ¼ inch drop at heel, gold inlaid dog on each side of the frame, 26 inch barrel in 20 gauge with Bradley white bead front sight. Inspection started on December 10, 1948, and finished on June 22, 1949. The shotgun was returned to the factory with work starting on October 21, 1953. A new extra set of barrels were added: deluxe, vent rib, 3 inch chamber, and chokes full (rt.) and full (lt.). A letter of provenance (copy) attributes this shotgun as once being owned by legendary actor Clark Gable. As stated in the letter, Clark Gable personally gave this shotgun to friend and founder of Lucky Lager Beer Eugene Selvage. “Selvage became friends with Clark Gable and often shot skeet and trap together. Selvage won a skeet tournament, where both were competing, and Gable gave him this four barrel Winchester 21 (serial #15113) in a sportsman’s bet.” Selvage and Gable were both members of the prestigious Pacific Rod and Gun Club in San Francisco. Eventually Selvage gave the shotgun set to friend and professional golfer George Archer. “In 1969, after George won the Masters, Selvage presented the gun to him as a special trophy acknowledging the winning.” The letter of provenance was written by Archer’s daughter, Elizabeth Archer Klein. The shotgun has remained in Elizabeth’s family until now. According to Elizabeth, the shotgun was upgraded by Larry Del Grego & Sons in Ilion, New York, in the 1950s, and Larry Del Grego records confirm the upgrade and cite ownership of the gun to Clark Gable and Eugene Selvage. An icon of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Clark Gable (1901-1960) was featured in more than 60 motion pictures in a film career that lasted nearly 40 years with most of those years as a leading man. He is perhaps best known for his leading role as Rhett Butler in the Best Picture Oscar-winning “Gone with the Wind” (1939). In August 1942, Gable joined the U.S. Army Air Forces despite protests from his studio bosses. He flew five combat missions as an observer-gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortresses and earned the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross, but when word of his near death experience during a bombing run reached the ears of nervous studio executives, Gable was sent back to the U.S. The post-war years saw Gable returning to the film business and marrying two more times before his death in 1960. Eugene Selvage (1896–1993) was the owner of Lucky Lager Brewing Company and a founder of the Lucky International Open which was won by George Archer in 1965. American professional golfer George Archer (1939-2005) won 13 events on the PGA Tour, including the Masters in 1969, and received his nickname “Golfing Cowboy” in his youth while working a summer job on Selvage’s Lucky Hereford Ranch. Selvage and Archer were very close friends. 28 inch barrel set in 20 gauge: Winchester factory proofed, numbered to gun, matted vent rib, white bead front and brass middle bead sights, scroll engraving at breech, 2 3/4 inch chambers with automatic ejectors, and chokes marked (R/L) “WS-1”/””WS-2”. Measurements (R/L): bore diameter measured 9 inches from the breech .616/.615 inches; choke constriction .000/.000 inches; minimum wall thickness .017/.029 inches. 28 inch barrel set in .410 bore: unmarked, matted vent rib, white bead front sight, and 3 inch chambers with automatic ejectors. 28 inch barrel set in 28 gauge: Winchester factory marked and proofed, numbered “21145,” matted vent rib, white bead front sight, 2 3/4 inch chambers with automatic ejectors, and chokes marked (R/L) modified/full. Measurements (R/L): bore diameter measured 9 inches from the breech .551/.552 inches; choke constriction .001/.000 inches; minimum wall thickness .060/.059 inches. 30 inch barrel set in 20 gauge: Winchester factory marked and proofed, numbered to gun, matted vent rib, white bead front sight, 3 inch chambers with automatic ejectors, and chokes marked full/full. Measurements (R/L): bore diameter measured 9 inches from the breech .613/.618 inches; choke constriction .022/.025 inches; minimum wall thickness .031/.025 inches. All four barrels share a single checkered deluxe walnut beavertail forearm that is numbered to the gun and features scroll engraved hardware. Three sets of snap caps are included: .410 bore, 28 gauge and 20 gauge. The receiver features fine scrollwork, gold inlaid dog scenes on each side, relief oak leaves on the fences and relief scene of pair of pheasants on the underside. The serial number on the upper tang has been remarked. The trigger guard is engraved to match along with a relief engraved dog head. Single trigger with selector and manual tang safety. The deluxe walnut pistol grip stock features checkered flats, multi-point checkering on the grip area, and Pachmayr White Line recoil pad. Includes a takedown case for all four barrel sets. 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 3/8 inch drop at heel; 14 inch length of pull; weight (.410 barrels installed) 8 lbs 10 oz.

Very fine as professionally refinished and upgraded to current configuration. The engraved 20 gauge barrel set retains 85% thinned blue finish with some minor handling marks. The remaining barrel sets each retain 95% or more of the blue finish taking on a plum appearance. The receiver and trigger guard retain 95% plus of the blue finish with high edge wear on the balance. The engraving is crisp. The wood is very good showing some flaking to the crazed varnish, some minor handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine with some minor handling/storage marks. A custom built Winchester Model 21 four barrel set shotgun once owned by one of Hollywood’s most famous actors, Clark Gable, as well as noted Masters Champion George Archer that will bring added dimension to any sporting collection.