Excel Champion Single Barrel 12 Gauge Single-Shot, 24 in Barrel, 2 3/4 in Chamber, CYL Bore, Montgomery Ward Trade Brand
This U.S.-made Excel Champion Single Barrel 12 gauge is a Montgomery Ward trade-brand shotgun built on the well-known Champion pattern, likely by Iver Johnson during the 1921–1939 era. It features a 24 in barrel with a CYL bore and a 2 3/4 in chamber, an exposed hammer, and a top-tang opening lever with a checkered thumb piece. An aftermarket Red Head Brand Chicago ventilated rubber recoil pad with a black spacer is installed, and the receiver bears the Montgomery Ward "Excel" marking.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Specific Condition Notes: This shotgun shows noticeable handling and finish wear throughout, with scratches and blemishes on the metal and wood. There are areas of surface rust and patches of finish loss. The action and controls feel stiff and are difficult to manipulate.
What's Included
- Excel Champion Single Barrel 12 Gauge single-shot shotgun
- Installed Red Head Brand Chicago ventilated rubber recoil pad with black spacer
Built on the Champion single-shot pattern and trade-marked "Excel" for Montgomery Ward, this shotgun aligns with Iver Johnson production traits from the 1921–1939 period, including a serial format with a two-letter suffix. It retains the classic top-tang opening lever with a checkered thumb piece and an exposed hammer, giving it the familiar operation associated with the design.
The 24 in barrel is configured with a fixed Cylinder choke and a 2 3/4 in chamber, making it a straightforward, traditional setup. The gun uses a manual extractor rather than an automatic ejector, consistent with many trade-brand single shots of the era.
The stock set is hardwood with an uncheckered finish and a semi-beavertail forend, offering a simple, solid grip profile. Length of pull measures 14.5 in. An aftermarket Red Head Brand Chicago ventilated rubber pad with a black spacer is fitted to the butt, adding period-style recoil mitigation and length adjustment.
Receiver markings include the Montgomery Ward "Excel" trade brand. Country of origin is the USA, and the overall configuration follows the Champion Single Barrel series pattern.