Winchester 23LD 23 Light Duck 1 of 500 1985 20 GA 28″ Briley Choke SXS Double Barrel Shotgun & Case

SOLD FOR: $2,762.00
LSB#: 190425KM14

Make: Winchester

Model: 23 Light Duck, 1 of 500

Serial Number: LD-247E

Year of Manufacture: 1985

Gauge: 20 Gauge, 2 3/4” & 3″ shells

Action Type: Side by Side Top Break with Ejectors and Single Selective Trigger

Markings: The left side of the left barrel is marked “WINCHESTER MODEL 23LD – 20 GAUGE – 2 3/4″ & 3″ / EAST ALTON IL. U.S.A.”, the right of the right barrel is marked “MADE IN JAPAN” and the top of the rib is marked “LIGHT DUCK”. The left barrel flat is marked “F”, “WP” in circle and “0”, the right is marked “F”, “WP” in circle and “247”, the bottom of the right barrel is marked “WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL”. The top of the forend iron is marked “247”. The right of the water table is marked “WP” in cirlce, the top tang is marked with the serial number, the bottom of the receiver is marked “LIGHT DUCK” in gold.

Barrel Length: 28”

Choke: The barrels have been threaded for Briley S-58 VX removable chokes. The left barrel currently has Skeet and the right Improved Cylinder. Light Modified, Modified and Improved Modified are also included.

Sights / Optics: This shotgun is mounted with a white bead in a base at the front of the solid rib and a smaller silver-colored mid-bead. The top of the rib is finely checkered to reduce glare.

Weight: 7 lb., 1.4 oz.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered select walnut with a beavertail forend, capped pistol grip, straight comb and solid black rubber Winchester buttpad. The stocks have only a few scattered minor marks. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 14” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. Drop at comb is approximately 1 3/8″, drop at heel 2 3/8″. The cast is about neutral. The pad has faint wear, in about Excellent condition. The stocks rate in about Excellent overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bores are bright. There is no erosion.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is very light operational wear. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in about Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly including the ejectors. The safety engages automatically on opening the action. The barrels lock up with no play to the receiver. The trigger is mechanical, not recoil operated. We have not fired this shotgun.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This shotgun comes in a hard-sided fitted Winchester luggage case with green canvas and brown leather exterior, green felt interior with wrist-strap and accessory compartment, keys for the case, the extra Briley chokes in a choke case and a choke wrench. The exterior of the case shows light wear in the leather at the ends, mostly at edges and corners, the interior shows very faint wear from the contents, in about Very Good-Fine condition.

Our Assessment: With so many classic designs, the Winchester collector has many options but few are as rare or beautiful as the Model 23 LIGHT DUCK series. Produced in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987, five hundred LIGHT DUCK series guns were made in 28 GA, 20 GA, 12 GA and .410, respectively. The 20 gauge was made in the second year of production for the Model 23, considered by many to be Winchester’s last great shotgun. This example is in Excellent condition with signs of very light, responsible use and it comes with a Winchester luggage case. Its beauty is matched by functionality, the deep blued metal and beautiful walnut stocks paired with a mechanical single trigger and selective ejectors. This example has even been threaded for Briley thin-wall chokes with a selection included from Improved Modified to Skeet. This gun is truly a rare marriage of form and function. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This shotgun CAN be transferred in California.