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.

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

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

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.

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

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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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".

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.

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

That was one sweet gun Dean....

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.

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:)

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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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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.

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.

'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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.