Win. Model 101 Field Variation Quail Special (??)

[Gamecock]

I have a Win. Model 101 Field Variation Quail Special meeting all of the criteria described in the 35th Anniversary 'Blue Book," except one; rather than a 'straight grip stock,' it has a pistol grip stock.

The full description: "Model 101 Field Variation Quail Special - 12ga...25 1/2 in. Winchoke barrels, straight grip stock, vent. barrels and rib, coin finished receiver with game scene engraving, 6 3/4 lbs. 500 of each ga. were mfg. Imported 1984-1986.

Browning/Winchester had no idea. Do you?

 

[oneounceload]

Someone change the stock along the way?

Maybe they made a slightly different model with the pistol grip or offered it as an option?

Personally, I like an English grip on a gun with double triggers, whether SxS or O/U; something about it just looks "right"

 

[Virginian]

I believe the straight gripped stock also employed a different trigger guard, so if someone changed it they would have had to do both. I am not a 101 expert, but Remington barrels often do not measure exactly the advertised length. I would suspect you have a 26" barreled original gun.