Ed Blake, the 1998 research committee spent a day with the Trojan Skeet Gun at Ilion. I have several pictures of members of the committee waving that little gun around. It is actually pictured on the cover page of a late Remington parts price list.

I have a VH with 27 7/8" barrels. PGCA research letter states 28" barrels. Chokes are 3 1/2 to 4 inches long. Matting comes to a stop ahead of the end of the barrels but not by much. There is a 1946 Remington Repair code stamped on the barrel flats. Was the muzzle damaged at some point and cleaned up, maybe, who knows? Fits me well and shoots good so I don't give it too much thought now.

It is very common to find inexact barrel lengths (e.g., 29 15/16; 25 7/8) on guns made before about 1920. For whatever reasons, after that they were usually very precise to the inch measurements.

I may be out on a limb here, but is it possible that the final regulation of barrels by manipulation of the muzzles resulted in this minor shorting on some pairs?

I would doubt that.

I have two sets of Trojan barrels. One at 27 7/8" and one at 29 7/8" inches. Both from 1921. I guess considering their age a little shrinkage would be normal:)

MY 12 Trojan (1929) 30" exactly. My 1921 set of bbls measures 27 15/16. Both are uncut. The 1921 set had an extension which was ground off and fitted to the 1929 receiver. Locks up tight.