Craig, I would tend to think DD barrels might be more abundant (in stock) due to the fact that Parker only used them on guns of grades 5 and above, though we know of a couple of grade 4’s with them.
Just my take on the DD’s, though granted, sourcing composite barrels from Europe at that time had just about ended.





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I have decided to pass on this gun. It is for sale on GB and can be seen via the link below. My interest was primarily the fact that it has factory 25 1/2" barrels but unfortunately it lacks condition. Maybe one of our members has a fancy for such a gun to chase birds with. Thanks for all the responses regarding the barrels, FWIW I believe the length to be original myself.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/912634045

Its a leap of faith to buy that gun. Without a letter from ChucK , I believe the gun had 26" barrels and were shortened to alter chokes or remove damage.

Craig I can guarantee that the letter will show the gun as leaving Meriden with 25 1/2" barrels.

Randy it seems strange to me that someone would take what appears to be a die grinder to eliminate the word Twist and the arrow following CONN. on the top rib. The matting in that same area appears to be badly worn or perhaps sanded. I remain skeptical.

I agree with you Craig, that just adds to the issues or concerns that this gun causes. Just a theory but I was thinking someone rust blued those barrels in an attempt to hide the pattern and then removed the type of steel from the rib with the grinder or Dremel tool. Probably way off base but it seems a plausible theory. I am not skeptical about the barrel length, just my opinion. But I understand the other side here as well.

Looks to me like someone tried to alter/hide the Twist Steel mark. Darn, thats a heavy little gun at 7 lbs, my PH 20 with 28" Parker Steel barrels is heavy at 6 3/4 lbs. My PH 16 is a delightful 6 lbs 3 oz with its cut barrels.
I like the dimensions of the gun, however.

Why waste $2500.00 on a gun that the seller states, "Mostly Original", & no description of What's not original. Have the barrels been changed; no photos of serial numbers. Use your money wisely & purchase a good honest unmolested Parker in good condition.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of composite barrel Parkers were faked up with ground off barrel legends in the fifties and sixties by backwoods gunsmiths who thought customers would think they were fluid steel barrels. By the way, what is the serial number of this gun and does it show up at 25 1/2" in the serialization book? What "book" is the seller and the buyer referring to?

Bill it's not in the ser. book but it is in the PB records and those records show it as a 25 1/2" barreled gun.