A cut above
Charles Smith-Jones takes a look at the Winchester Diamond Grade trap gun and likes what he sees
AWinchester gun may have its origins in one of several countries despite the all-American image. Oliver Winchester’s original firm founded in 1866 has long since disappeared in a succession of takeovers. It went into receivership in 1931 and was acquired by the Western Cartridge Company, which later became the Olin Corporation. Olin manufactures ammunition bearing the Winchester name but the Herstal Group’s subsidiaries, FN Herstal in Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Utah, also produce Winchester firearms under licence.
The 101 Game gun is an example of one of many models produced by the prolific Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The wide range of guns based on the Winchester 101 frame was produced in the Olin-Kodensha factory in Japan. Part-owned by Olin, readers may recall this plant was sold to Classic Doubles International, who continued to manufacture shotguns there before going bankrupt in 1990. It appears guns destined for the European market were built on the monobloc principle to enable a lighter construction preferred by this market compared with the USA.
Reputation
Production of the Diamond Grade trap started around 1983, so sits among the later models turned out in the Japanese plant. Winchester guns, irrespective of their provenance, come with a reputation for quality, sound manufacturing and reliability. The Diamond Grade Trap is no exception. It was highly respected among clay shooters when first introduced and is still a popular choice today, even though it has been superseded by more modern offerings.
As a gun specifically aimed at the clay shooting market, this model will feel noticeably heavier than those intended for field shooting, but nevertheless handles effortlessly. Guns leaving the factory either came with fairly tight fixed chokes or with proprietary Winchoke flush-fitting multichokes. If preferred, after-market extended chokes can be sourced easily enough. Although many of the lighter 101-based guns often had a tendency towards more noticeable recoil, this will not be the case here. If recoil is an issue, it will almost inevitably be a result of poor gun fit.
Aesthetically, this is an attractive gun which was well respected and much sought after in its time. All had single selective and
adjustable gold-plated triggers, and the combined safety catch and barrel selector is mounted in the usual position on the upper tang. Some came with an adjustable comb as an optional extra. Although owners may have subsequently altered the specification to their own preferences, the original barrels were dual beaded. The highstepped rib marks it out as a trap gun, as does the generously proportioned foreend. The two screws in the trigger tang of the example illustrated, whose 30in barrel is at the shorter end of those produced, mark it out as coming from the earlier end of the production run.
Designs
Overall, the woodwork is grained attractively with a fluted Monte Carlo comb. Both the pistol grip and fore-end are finely chequered, the latter coming in a beavertail configuration and with finger grooves in the upper flanks.
The receiver is white metal and, although the engraving may be variable around a theme of scroll and rosette motifs, the flanks and base feature distinctive diamond shapes as a centrepiece. The one on the underside also includes the words ‘Diamond Grade’ just to underline the model as well as a black diamond insert on the grip butt.
If you are fortunate, the gun may be offered with its original hard luggage case and chokes, and possibly even the second barrel it may have originally been supplied with. There was even a single-barrelled version. In some cases, the upper barrel of an over-and-under might be fitted with a fixed choke with only the lower one being changeable.
As a mark of their quality, reputation and desirability, Diamond Grade trap guns can still command respectable secondhand prices despite their age, and they retain a loyal following. As with all shotguns that have been used for competition shooting, it always pays to inspect one carefully before committing as it may have had many thousands of cartridges through it, but there are plenty of sound examples with many years of service left in them out there. You certainly won’t look out of place on the clay lines, and may well draw envious glances.
Many thanks to R&B Sporting, Ross-on-Wye for its help with this article. Tel: 01989 763859 or visit: rbsporting.co.uk
CHARLES SMITH-JONES SAYS: “This is an attractive gun which was well respected and much sought after in its time”