The Winchester Model 21 is one of the finest guns ever built on American shores garnering a massive following of dedicated shooters who swear by the design. This particular Model 21 is not only exceedingly beautiful in its appearance and function, it is steeped in history with an incredible pedigree as it was built for none other than the 38th President of the United States Gerald R. Ford Jr. Ford served as president from August, 1974 to January, 1977, a quite tumultuous time for the country in the wake of Vice President Spiro Agnew's resignation due to conviction for tax evasion and President Richard Nixon's resignation following the Watergate scandal. Ford was quickly propelled from House Minority Leader to Vice President and after only eight months, to President of the United States, having never even had the chance to move into the Vice President's residence. Ford is the only President to have never been elected to the office or the office of Vice President and also remains the only President from the great state of Michigan. The gun itself was built with blued Winchester Proof Steel chopperlump barrels featuring a white bead front and steel mid bed sight on the matted flat vent rib which is engraved "CUSTOM BUILT BY WINCHESTER CELEBRATING" ahead of "U. S. BICENTENNIAL" inlaid in gold and standard Winchester factory markings on the left tube. The barrels both show a single band at either breech expanding into a wedge of floral scroll work extending 2 1/2 inches towards the muzzles. The gun is marked for 3 inch chambers with automatic ejectors and the chokes are marked "MOD"/"FULL" just ahead of the jewelled flats. The barrels are fitted to a richly blued action which displays deep oak leaf engraving on the fences, jewelled watertable and standing breech, tasteful sprays of floral scroll engraving, and five highly detailed gold inlays. The gold inlays consist of four vignettes showing a mallard in flight and a pointer on the left side of the action, a pointer and a quail in flight on the right, and the Great Seal of the United States on the underside with "1776-1976" and "BICENTENNIAL" above and below respectively. The gun features a single selective gold trigger and a tang mounted automatic safety. The gun is mounted with a gorgeously figured and fancy fleur-de-lis checkered beavertail forend with engraved fittings and an ebony tip inlay along with a pistol grip stock featuring an engraved blued grip cap, a leather wrapped recoil pad, and the all important gold inscription oval which is marked "PRESENTED/TO/PRESIDENT/Gerald R. Ford/July 4./1976". Included is a second matching numbered and engraved set of 26 inch barrels with 2 3/4 inch chambers and chokes marked "IMP. CYL."/"MOD" along with its own stunning beavertail forend. Also included is a fine wood and leather takedown case with canvas cover and lid marked "PRESIDENT/GERALD R. FORD/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" which houses the gun and both barrel sets. The factory letter, which is included with the gun, confirms that the gun and extra barrel set left the factory in the current configuration including the engraving, gold work, and letterering in the above described case when inspection was completed on May 24, 1976. Barrel measurements for the extra set (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .735/.730 inches; choke constriction .009/.013 inches; minimum wall thickness .031/.035 inches. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .730/.730 inches; choke constriction .013/.038 inches; minimum wall thickness .034/.033 inches; 1 5/8 inch drop at comb; 2 5/8 inch drop at heel; 14 9/16 inch length of pull; weight 7 lbs. 12 oz.