Winchester Model 42
Winchester Repeating Arms Company · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1933
Also known as: Winchester Model 42 Slide-Action, The Greatest Little Shotgun in the World
Overview
The Winchester Model 42 is an American pump-action shotgun chambered for the .410 bore, produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company from 1933 to 1963. Designed by William Roemer as a scaled-down version of John Browning's Model 12, it was the first slide-action shotgun engineered specifically around the .410 shell rather than adapted from a larger gauge. Prized for its light weight, slim proportions and elegant handling, it was offered in Standard, Skeet, Trap, Deluxe and Pigeon grades and became one of the most collectible smallbore shotguns ever made.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2800 g (98.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1092 mm (42.99") |
| Barrel Length | 660 mm (25.98") |
| Action Type | Pump Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tubular |
| Muzzle Velocity | 411 m/s (1348 fps) |
| Effective Range | 30 m (33 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .410 Bore · primary — also known as .410 Gauge, .410 Shotshell, 36 gauge
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: 5-Round Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Cross Bolt Safety
- Features: Takedown Design, Tubular Magazine, Interchangeable Chokes, Ventilated Rib Option, Cutts Compensator Option
Production
Estimated total produced: 164,800 · Production years: 1933-1963
Produced in Standard, Skeet, Trap, Deluxe and Pigeon grades with many custom options.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: William Roemer
Discontinued: 1963
Notes
Approximately 164,800 were produced across all grades. Early guns had 2.5-inch chambers; 3-inch chambering became standard. Offered with 26- or 28-inch barrels, plain, solid or ventilated ribs, and optional Cutts Compensators.
Background
Marketed as 'The Greatest Little Shotgun in the World', the Model 42 earned a devoted following among skeet shooters and small-game hunters. Its scaled-down Model 12 lineage, fine walnut and delicate handling made high-grade examples among the most sought-after collector shotguns of the 20th century.