Scot, why would you think they are anything other than what you describe? I think I know what you are describing. A friend had a 16-20 set that looks like the 16 gauge barrels were fitted with a hatchet. Have you seen a similar set?

Bill to be clear, I've no doubt the barrel's in my photo were "factory" fitted. I can't speak to the fitment of the barrels to the frame from CSMC, particularly in the area of the dolls head, because I've never had a set of those barrels.

I did have another set of OEM Krieghoff PR barrels that were not factory serialized and therefore were never technically 'fitted' to a gun through Regeant. The un-serialized barrels worked on my s-grip 20 ga just fine, but the doll's head wasn't a perfect fit because it stood proud of the frame by about .015. On another 20 ga frame (pg-stock), the doll's head nested perfectly into the frame so. . .

Merkel barrels are generally gorgeous and very well made - I do know that.

My memory doesn't tell me who fitted the Merkel barrels or whether they were sold to be fitted later.

Sorry to resurrect a zombie thread but the OP triggered my way-way-back machine. In the late 80's lived in Dayton OH and visited Jaqua's regularly while out and about on business. I remember the Parker Repro's and Classic Doubles, stacked like cord wood, with big sales fliers, as you entered their gun room.

Delete-

Didn't notice this was an old thread.