2 Barrel Sets

[Todd Kaltenbach]

Lots of people like 2 barrel sets so I thought I'd post a couple of pictures of some. The hammer gun is a 10 gauge, the DH is a 10 gauge/12 gauge, and the GH is 12 gauge. The GH was originally ordered as a 2 barrel set, the other 2 were both sent back to the factory to have a second barrel fitted. The DH only has 1 forend but it fits the 12 gauge and 10 gauge barrels. Hopefully others will post their sets for all to enjoy. Thanks and Happy New Year to all.

I will post 3 sets of pics.

[Todd Kaltenbach]

This gun started life as a 10 gauge and the 12 gauge set of barrels were added at a later date.

[Mills Morrison]

Nice ones Todd! I like that early DH in particular

[Todd Kaltenbach]

The GH started life as a 2 barrel set, one short barrel with open chokes that is heavily used and one longer barrel with tight chokes that was not used much.

[Bruce Day]

Great thread, Todd. Maybe we can get back to appreciating Parkers with this subject.

Here is an 1891 CH, one of the early hammerless C grades, on a #2 frame with 30" heavy Bernard 12ga barrels and 26" Damascus 10ga barrels. The 26 inchers are factory cylinder bored. With the Bernard 12's , the total gun weight is about 8 1/2 lbs, with the Damascus 10's, about 7 3/4.

The gun was proofed in 1891 with Wood's smokeless powder and intended by Parker to be used with smokeless powder. This gun was used in Portsmouth NH for most of its life, then acquired in poor condition by Austin Hogan. This was a project gun for Austin, who after substantial work on it, gifted the gun to me, and I put more time and money into it to get it to its present condition. Both barrels were loose against the frame standing breech face , and Larry Del Grego repaired the wear.

Its not perfect but really a nice gun, and I have shot waterfowl and pheasant with it. I am grateful to Austin to be its present caretaker.

[Dave Noreen]

I've posted this gun many times before, so hopefully it won't be too boring to the regulars. Very early heavy, bit over nine pounds, 2-frame GH-Grade, Damascus barrel, 12-gauge. Was back to Meriden between 1918 and about 1926 for a set of 32-inch Vulcan Steel 20-gauge barrels and the post 1910 bolt and bolt-plates. As originally acquired --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/Big2001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/Big20045x7.jpg

Restocked and barrels refinished --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/5621306_zpscaad5fec.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/5621305_zps20acc38a.jpg

[Mills Morrison]

Don't worry, we won't ever get tired of seeing that gun. Beautiful photos! Mine is not nearly as nice as others posted here, but here it is. It is a great gun to shoot

[wayne goerres]

I am envious. I don't own a two barrel set.

[Rich Anderson]

The two barrel set is a curious thing to me, while I understand the thought behind them haveing two sets of barrels of different lengths and chokes allegedly makes the gun more usefull but how often does the second set get used?

I currently have four two barrel sets. The Hollywood gun a 16ga left the factory with two sets of vent rib barrels both 28 inches one set skt/skt the other M/F, A CHE 16 with two sets of Bernard ejector barresl the second set being in 12ga, An AAHE 28, Parker barrels IC/M the second set came from Purdy M/F and a GH with 28 and 32 inch damascuss barrels. I have had others sets that have found different homes.

The M/F set of barrels haven't been on the Hollywood gun 5 times in the 8 years I've had it, the 12ga barrels on the CHE have never been used since I've owned the gun, the Purdy barrles on the 28 have been used twice and the 32 inch damascuss bbls on the GH 16 are at Dale Edmonds so the jury is out on them. Maybe it's just me (it wouldn't be the first time:) ) but I just don't get the added value of a second set of barrels.

[Dean Romig]

The two barrel set is a curious thing to me, while I understand the thought behind them haveing two sets of barrels of different lengths and chokes allegedly makes the gun more usefull but how often does the second set get used?

I just don't get the added value of a second set of barrels.


Which just begs the question... If you "just don't get the value of a second set of barrels" why then, do you own four of them??


It seems to me that anyone who ordered a gun with two sets of barrels, or sent their gun back for another set with different chokes or even gauges, shot a lot more and more often than we do today and likely at a lot more diverse kinds of game bird. Hence, the flexibility of two sets of barrels made a lot more sense to the man ordering them.

[Rick Losey]

Rich -

just guessing- but i always thought it was a thinking process of the time.

Many would have one good gun -

a traveling hunter could handle one gun case with two barrel sets easier than two cases, and he was less likely to have different guns for different game anyway.

so, off to the prairie by train, going to hunt sage grouse and ducks - or ducks and woodcock in the Maritimes of Canada - the set may make sense.

we - now days - are more likely to have a dedicated gun (or 2 or 12) for what ever species we hunt, and an extra case in the truck is no big deal.

no proof of it at all- just a thought

[Mills Morrison]

I need about 3 of the guns I own: a rifle, a double for ducks and turkeys and a double for upland game. The rest fall into the "don't need, but couldn't possibly live without" category.

[Rich Anderson]

Mills I could narrow things down quite a bit myself. Somebody asks "how many guns do you have?" The response is "More than I need but not as many as I want":rotf:

Not counting a .22 LR I could get away with one deer rifle (just hard to choose which one), The Hollywood gun, Gunners Gun and the VHE 28.

[Mills Morrison]

That is a good response. My standard one is "lost count"

[wayne goerres]

Who was it that said, need has nothing to do with it.

[edgarspencer]

I may be wrong, but I don't think there were many 'gun collectors' back then. Making one more useful was more in line with the average man's thinking. I've passed on guns which I really liked, primarily because the seller felt the 2nd set of barrels added more value than I thought. Maybe 20% could be justified, but not 40 and 50%.

[Bill Murphy]

I have a lot more two barrel sets than I need, but not nearly as many as I want. I have only one more three barrel sets than I need, but, again, I want a few more. My original two and three barrel sets are my favorite Parkers. I believe I displayed my 16 gauge GHE Damascus three barrel set at the Fall Southern three years ago. I displayed my CH Grade Bernard two barrel set "Charleston Gun" at the Fall Southern two years ago. I plan on bringing the completed and cased CH to display at the Northeast Shoot this June. I may also bring my outstanding DH #3 frame two barrel Damascus gun to the Northeast Shoot also.

[Mills Morrison]

Bill's CH Charleston Gun is in the NEED category for sure

[Mills Morrison]

More photos please. There have to be some more out there for us to see

[Bill Murphy]

UH, Mills, I guess you know the case is finished, but I still have to wrap the straight grip in copper wire so I can shoot it. Are you coming to the Northeast Shoot? We "need" you and Julia there.

[Mills Morrison]

I need to come too. Let's see how the year goes.

[Dean Romig]

This is another original two barrel set from Austin Hogan's collection. Ser. No. 23150
It is a 3-Frame 10 gauge lifter and also includes both forends marked 1 & 2 respectively.
The barrels are;

Barrel set #1 is listed in the Ser. & ID book as 27 inches but are in fact 27 3/16" and have relatively open chokes. I do not own a device for measuring 10 ga. bores but the chokes look to be about open and imp. cyl.

Barrel set #2 is most certainly recorded as 30 inches but are in fact 30 3/16" and have what appear to be extra full chokes judging by the wall thickness at the muzzles.

Barrel set #2, the 30" set, as well as the forend #2, appears to have the most use/wear.

The forends are not interchangeable and you can see the difference in the shape/size of the forend lugs.... very strange that barrel set #1 has the very unusually filed smaller lug as well as the much smaller recess on the forend iron and barrel set #2's lug looks like most all other Parker lugs that have the Deely style of forend latch.

The wood is original and has great grain and lots of "fire".

The engraving corresponds with most all Grade-2 engraving of that wonderful era... almost 'over the top' for a low grade.
Looks like a pair of pheasants on the left lock and a couple of woodcock on the right, and while the bird engraved on the bottom of the frame certainly must be a woodcock.... it sure looks like a Do-Do Bird to me :shock:



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[Dean Romig]

More pictures of 23150




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[charlie cleveland]

i can see this fellow certainly used one barrel more than the other...real nice set up... charlie

[Thomas L. Benson Sr.]

I walked in to a gun store in Alaska in the 1980's and the person that I would deal with was not in so I told the gentleman that I would like to put a deposit down on this 12 Parker with 32 inch. barrels and would pick it up on the week end. I looked it over and thought I think this would do for my first Parker. I came back that week end and paid it off and was getting ready to leave and he says hold on I will get the other set of barrels. I didn't know anything about them so man now I'm really excited. He came out with a set of 26 inch barrels with matching numbers. The letter I got on the gun states nothing about a two barrel set and it says it came with a 28 inch. It is what it is. Thomas

[Rich Anderson]

I bet there are more two bbl sets that are made up than produced fom the factory.

I bought a set of grade 2 32 inch Damascuss 16ga bbls last year from the forum here and fitted them to a GH 16 0 frame that i have. In researching the 32 inch bbls it seems they were part of a two bbl set for a GH 16 0 frame the second set was 28 inches and thats exactly what I matted them up to.

Of the four two bbl sets I have only one left Parker with two sets of barrels and thats the Hollywood gun.

[Christopher Lien]

You may be right Rich,

A DHE 16/20, two gauge, two barrel set, both barrels 32"... Not originally ordered as a two barrel set in 1929, but an interesting combination just the same. It was fun to shoot, but I find most of my hunting is done with a 12ga or larger bore gun these days...;)

Best, CSL
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[bruce a lyons]

1897 Grade 3 Factory 2 barrel set

[Larry Frey]

I agree with the others here who have stated they most always use only one set of barrels on their two barrel sets. I don't seek out two barrel sets and won't pay a premium to buy one but I also won't pass up a gun I want just because of an extra set of barrels.:)

[Fred Preston]

VHE 20ga, 32" f&f, 28"ic&mod.

[Rick Losey]

now that is a great combination Fred

[Dave Suponski]

1915 Winchester Model 12 26" skeet 30" full Oh s--t this is a Parker site! Damn it :rotf:

[charlie cleveland]

mighty nice...charlie

[Rich Anderson]

Chris thats a nice set up and would make a great clays gun or an upland gun for the wide open spaces. Congrats.

[Rick Losey]

you can PARK 'er at my house then Dave

[Bill Murphy]

Heck, I forgot to mention my 30" PHE Trap with 26" bird barrels, both factory vent rib.

[Christopher Lien]

Rich,
It was a fun DHE on Pheasants and Partridge. Always thought it would be a great Shorebird gun as well with the 20-bore 32" barrels. The DHE 16/20 lives in Montana now, and from what I'm told it's enjoyed in the field on a regular basis...
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CSL
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[Dean Romig]

I have a made up 3 barrel set. A DH 90739 with its original 30" Titanic barrels choked ImpMod/ImpMod and I had Russ Bickell fit a set of 30" Damascus barrels to it that are choked cyl/mod. I recently bought and am in the process of fitting a set of 30" 2-Frame Damascus 10 ga. barrels to it which are reverse choked left IC and right Full. Amazingly the one forend fits all three sets of barrels. The 10 ga. barrels are still in the tedious process of fitting. I brought it to Mr. "Crossed Chisels" in Maine and he got me started with smoking the surfaces then filing, smoking and filing, smoking, filing, smoking, filing... it is a long process but with his initial guidance they will fit with precision.

[Rich Anderson]

There is one two barrel set I miss. It was a GHE 20 with 28 & 30 inch bbl from the factory. I bought it at the Southern about 8 years ago and traded it for a GHE 20 skeet gun and then sold that for something I can't remember....oh well I'm sure it was a good cause:whistle:

[Daryl Corona]

1915 Winchester Model 12 26" skeet 30" full Oh s--t this is a Parker site! Damn it :rotf:

No need to apologize OP, I should dig my 2 barrel M12 out of the safe just to make you feel better.:whistle:

[Rich Anderson]

At one time I had a M12 two bbl set. It was a trap/skeet combination with 30 inch full and 26 inch skeet both with vent ribs from Winchester not Simmons.

[Mills Morrison]

I have an Auto 5 two barrel set. Full and Skeet

[Daryl Corona]

At one time I had a M12 two bbl set. It was a trap/skeet combination with 30 inch full and 26 inch skeet both with vent ribs from Winchester not Simmons.

Mine are 26" WS1 and 30" full. Both sport a solid rib and all numbers match.

[edgarspencer]

At one time I had a M12 two bbl set. It was a trap/skeet combination with 30 inch full and 26 inch skeet both with vent ribs from Winchester not Simmons.

All the Model 12 guys I know, know more about them than I, and say Simmons installed all Simmons ribs. Winchester never made their own ribs for wither the twelve or the 42. The way to know whether it was 'factory' was if the proof mark was off to the side. If not off to the side, it was done for the customer, after leaving Winchester. If Winchester was selling the the gun with the rib, the proof mark was stamped to the side, and then sent to Simmons.

[Dennis V. Nix]

Todd,

This is a great thread and I appreciate you and the others for posting photos of beautiful guns. Could you please explain the reason for the cross hatching on the water table? Was it for decoration only?

Dennis

[Robt. Harris]

You may be right Rich,

A DHE 16/20, two gauge, two barrel set, both barrels 32"... Not originally ordered as a two barrel set in 1929, but an interesting combination just the same. It was fun to shoot, but I find most of my hunting is done with a 12ga or larger bore gun these days...;)

Best, CSL
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http://www.webpak.net/~cslien/1DHE16_20D.jpg
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Hello Chris,

That 'DHE' is STILL a fun gun to shoot at most anything and 'Thanks' for making it available back when...as well as posting the pictures again. It's still here in Montana and looks much the same other than a rust-bluing of both barrel sets. I'm using it occasionally for clays and pheasants. As for your shorebirds, they would have to be a loooong way out there as those 20 ga. full/full barrels are printing a 5" dia. pattern at 35 ft. from the muzzle....with only .025" constriction in each. It is still very much appreciated.

All Best to you and yours,

rob
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[Bill Murphy]

Since Dean mentioned his "made up" three barrel set, I'll enter mine. It is a 0 frame 28" GHE 16 Damascus, with 26" 16 gauge Parker Special Steel and 32" 20 gauge A-1 Special barrels, Vulcan Steel. Each set has its matching forend. All barrels fit as well or better than the 1911 originals. The original gun came from Shoverling, Daly, and Gales. If anyone comes up with a case for this gun, I would appreciate it. I would even like a case for my other 16 gauge GHE three barrel gun whose longest set is 30".

[Bill Murphy]

I was feeling jealous about the ten gauges our posters mentioned until I remembered my 30" NH Twist Steel ten with extra non matching 30" ten gauge Titanic steel barrels. They fit absolutely perfectly without any filing. The Titanic barrels are waiting patiently for the #3 frame gun they were separated from. The barrels on the gun should be numbered like the ones I have. I believe mine are #2. The gun was originally sold by William Wagner in Washington, D.C.

[Dean Romig]

Wish I still had my .410 two-barrel set Skeeter :banghead:

[Frank Cronin]

Wish I still had my .410 two-barrel set Skeeter :banghead:

That was one sweet gun Dean....

[Bill Murphy]

Dean probably got the big buck for the Skeeter. As I recall, it went to auction where the big boys play. I'm going to look at a Skeeter tomorrow if Linda will let me out.

[Rich Anderson]

Dean I wish that Skeeter had come my way as planned:cuss:

There are some we let go of physically but hold on to mentally:)

[Christopher Lien]

Hello Chris,
That 'DHE' is STILL a fun gun to shoot at most anything and 'Thanks' for making it available back when...as well as posting the pictures again. It's still here in Montana and looks much the same.......______________________________
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Rob,
Great to hear from you again and it's good to know all is going well. Also nice to hear you are staying active with the long barreled DHE, I'm glad it went where it was appreciated and enjoyed. I may be stopping by your neck of the woods in the future, perhaps we can go work the dogs on a few birds...
Happy New Year!

Best, Chris ~ CSL
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[Richard Flanders]

My only 2-bbl set. VH12, 1-1/2-frame, 26" and 30", both choked .040"/.040". Non-spurred butt plate. Gun has not been used that much and is in excellent condition. The best V-grade I've had by a good margin. Could be the 3-1/2" DAH has limited it's use.

[Bill Murphy]

Another one I forgot was a DH safetyless pigeon gun from Dave Lien with 30" Damascus barrels and a well fitted but mismatched set of 30" Vulcan Steel barrels. All four barrels have .040 of choke.

[Robt. Harris]

'Thanks' Chris.....and I would be more than available to meet you if you're coming through these parts........need a place to stay?....as you'd have one.

Will try calling you.


All Best,

rob

[David Lien]

Murphy
That old gun shot good. What you might like to know is that gun came out of the US Powder co. that was located in San Francisco. The gun had been in one family for a long time…
David

[Bill Murphy]

David, it doubles when firing the right barrel first. I haven't tried it the other way. I really like it and I'll get it straight. I love those safetyless pigeon guns. I have a plan for getting provenance on it. I hope you're having a good time on the Browning forum. I am.

[Bill Murphy]

After talking to Dave about the DH he sold me, I remembered another two barrel DH that I haven't mentioned. It is a 30" Titanic Steel vent rib gun with extra 32" solid rib Parker Special Steel barrels, both factory numbered. The gun letters with 30" solid rib barrels, so the gun has been back to Parker brothers for either two sets of barrels or one set of barrels and a vent rib installation on the other. The gun has a Miller selective single trigger of the early variation. Since it is such a versatile pigeon gun, I fitted a set of 26" Titanic barrels bored cylinder and full for Columbaire. I bought those barrels from Shelly Gitman years ago and they snapped on the old DH like they were built for it. They are bored backwards, cylinder in the left, and .040 in the right, like they were built with a Columbaire shooter in mind. What a three barrel set this is, originally purchased as a two barrel set for $400.

[Richard Flanders]

The two bbls sets with my V grade have different markings on the flats. One has a circled JG not on the other. Would this be indicative of one set of bbls being added later? Doesn't seem like that many V grades are 2-bbl sets. The stock has an oval silver 'inset' inset of the usual shield and is inscribed with BSS. I've shot the 26" bbls and can tell you that 3-/12" DAH is a lot... too much for even me without a comb pad of some sort. I'm thinking of trying one of the newer gel like stick on pads that can be peeled off and put on another gun. Anyone tried those yet? I'm a bit leary as to what it might do to the finish, which is in very good shape and only marked by a few minor handling marks.

[Dean Romig]

Chuck Bishop uses those and is very happy with them. They will not affect the finish at all. Chuck will come on and say more I'm sure.

[Daryl Corona]

Richard;
I've used the gel pads for a few years now and can attest to their usefulness and ease of removal without damage to the wood's finish. They are one of those items that I said to myself "damn, I wish I had thought of that".

[Bill Murphy]

Oh, how could I forget my favorite two barrel set, another DH. It is the "Gold Hearts Gun", displayed some years back on PGCA tables at the Southern Side by Side, and a couple of years ago on the grass with other exceptional Parkers next to the gravel road behind the Parker vs L.C. Smith Challenge field. The "Gold Hearts Gun" is a 1901 30" DH safetyless pigeon gun with factory added 34" Parker Special Steel barrels. It also includes the rare pigeon gun feature of the deleted doll's head extension. It was featured in the Parker Pages where you will have to look to see its unusual factory gold embellishments. I'm trying to find a picture of Annie Oakley shooting this gun, but so far have been unsuccessful. I have to again thank Daryl Middlebrook and Doug Turnbull for helping me to acquire this treasure. Ken Hurst and Dewey Vicknair performed restoration work on the barrels and skeleton buttplate.

[Dave Suponski]

Im sure Bill wouldn't mind me posting a few pictures of "The Gold Hearts Gun" Enjoy!

[Rich Anderson]

Bill you must have more multi barrel sets than anybody else in the PGCA:bowdown:

[charlie cleveland]

bill this is one great gun......the gold finish really stands out...do you think annie oakly mite have used this gun at one time..very interesting storey maybe....i really like the back two bead sites...first thing i thought of is i need sometrhing like this on my old 8 ga too help me sight in a little bit better on a deer...no pun intended a wondereful gun... charlie

[John Dallas]

I'm sure this must have been discussed before at great length before, but what's up with the two gold balls?

[Dean Romig]

Bill, what does the research letter say about the Gold Hearts Parker?

[Bill Murphy]

All the gold heart embellishments are factory, according to the PGCA letter as well as the ebony and ivory inlays on the forend. The beavertail on the 34" barrels has no inlays or gold plating. The gold plated trigger guard, the gold balls, the big A on the trigger plate, and gold forend treatments are not mentioned on the order. I should install gold balls on my next project gun. I guess gold balls are somewhat of a status symbol in these days of political correctness and sexual equality. Charlie, you would be surprised at how well the gold balls assist with sighting. Sorry about the butt pad that covered the beautiful Ken Hurst buttplate in Dave's pictures. I guess we were shooting the old girl that day.