Picked this up. Need as much info as possible. I’ve seen the same one for sale for $19,995.
For digit serial number. 2271

Gun started life as either skeet or field grade. Can't tell if a SR was removed to install the VR.
Assume receiver and bbl extension SNs match? Barrel has 1st type "pending" rollstamp as should.

Wood, wood finish, metal finish, rib, engraving are aftermarket. Auction maybe would bring more than a high-grade Miroku/Browning/Winchester repro. Not $19k tho.

Serial numbers match.
It’s marked “SKEET”
I have seen this exact engraving on a couple other
42’s. And in a Winchester book.
So how can it be aftermarket??
Thanks

Factory patterns get duplicated. Pauline can better explain it.

Your gun dates to 1933. Reblue is obvious from type and tint. If nothing else the aggressive metal prep gives it away. Wood is neither prewar nor even pre-64. Vent ribs were not introduced till well into the postwar period. "Skeet" stamped field grades were catalogued, but that choke designation is less commonly seen than on skeet grades.

Samuel_Hoggson is 100% spot on, as usual.

I'd guess it started life as a plain barreled Skeet choked gun, whether a standard (field) or skeet grade is any bodies guess. We can't see any indication of a Solid Rib being removed, to install the aftermarket Simmons VR. It is clear the wood is also aftermarket solely by looking at the grain, depth of color, cut and over all wood color, before we even look at the checkering, which is not factory checkering. I'd bet Simmons added (changed) the wood when they did the VR and reblued in the 1970's or later based on the type of Simmons stamping on the side of the rib.

As stated by others Pauline Muerrle will have to explain the engraving. This style/pattern is the most duplicated (faked) and recognized engraving pattern on a Model 12 and Model 42.

Best advise I can give is to ask, before you buy, not ask after you buy. Hope you don't have more than about $3K tied up in it.

That pattern of engraving is popular as well as copied by many. No two hand engraved guns are exactly alike. Pauline can give you an ear full about fake factory engraving

I guess from the workmanship of this engraving
Some guy off the street did not do this. Had to be done by a master engraver right?
Hand full of them out there?
I’m in this in the 2 g range. I bought it to shoot it not sell it.
No safe queens in my safes.
Thanks for all the Info.

At $2k, assuming no mechanical issues, you didn't get hurt.

Aftermarket engraving is not synonymous with poor engraving. Pauline still engraves Winchesters; her work is first class. Hopefully she'll chime in on this one - she might have an idea re the engraver.

Very handsome gun even though it’s not factory engraving. It’s still mechanically a Model 42. Field grades are probably running around $1500 so like Sam said (and he would certainly know) you didn’t get hurt.

Not factory engraving or checkering. The engraving is nice but the pattern is not done correctly. Check with magnification and see if you can find the engraver's initials.

Do you know where those initials might be?
Thanks

They could be anywhere. Use a magnifying glass and a strong light