Winchester 101 Shotguns - The Old Deer Hunters

The Winchester 101 shotgun is a over-and-under double-barrel shotgun that was first introduced by Winchester Olin in 1963. It was designed to be a reliable, high-quality shotgun that could compete with other top-level sporting shotguns on the market.

The design of the Winchester 101 was based on the classic Belgian Browning Superposed shotgun, which had been a popular choice among sportsmen and competitive shooters for many years. Winchester wanted to create a shotgun that was just as reliable and well-made as the Superposed, but with a few design “improvements”.

The Winchester 101 sold for $284, compared with $360 for the Browning Superposed. Whereas the Browning was built in Belgium, the Winchester was built under the supervision of Winchester at the Kadensha Corporation plant in Japan. I bought my first Model 101 in 1974, the year the 20-gauge option was introduced. That first 101 was a 12-gauge Skeet model with 26-inch barrels. I fell in love with the 101 the first time I shot it and 50 years later it is still my favorite shotgun.

**Classic Doubles 101 Grade II 28-guage Shotgun**

I soon acquired a Pigeon Grade field gun with modified and full chokes, a 20-guage with improved and modified chokes, and later when Classic Doubles started manufacturing the higher grade 101’s I bought just about every model available. Those Classic Doubles included a 4-barrel skeet set, a Grade II 28-guage with choke tubes, the Single Barrel Trap and a Grade II 12/20-gauge two barrel set, and a few others.

The Winchester 101 was made with a sturdy box-lock action and a low-profile receiver that gave it a sleek, modern look. The shotgun was also designed to be lightweight and well-balanced, with a slim forend and a comfortable grip. The barrels were made from high-quality steel and were available in a variety of lengths and configurations, depending on the intended use of the shotgun.

Production of the Winchester 101 continued until 1987, when Olin sold its factory in Japan to Classic Doubles, Ldt. Classic Doubles continued to make the 101 with higher grade wood in many variations and models. Sadly, Classic Doubles was forced to close the doors in 1989. I think the best of the 101’s were produced during the last two years when made by Classic Doubles.

However, the shotgun remained popular among sportsmen and competitive shooters, and it has since been re-introduced by the Belgian gun maker FN Herstal under the Winchester brand.

Today, the the original Winchester 101 is still regarded as a classic sporting shotgun and is highly valued by collectors and shooters alike. Its reputation for reliability and quality craftsmanship has made it a favorite among bird hunters, clay target shooters, and other shotgun enthusiasts around the world.