Another Cut Barrel Question...
 

I know this has been gone over 100 times... The Serial books states that the barrel length is 26" but the barrels measure 24 7/8". The wavey lines go all the way to the end of the barrel, could the book be off? Or why would anyone cut just 1" off a barrel?

Thanks-

Generally speaking, barrels were cut for only a couple of reasons. One was to eliminate some of the choke allowing the gun to shoot more open patterns. The other reason would have been to bob off a section of damaged barrels. I can't even think of another reason. I can't imagine Parker Bros. producing a set of barrels 1/8" less than an even inch length. There are any number of barrel sets that were made a tad longer than an even inch number though.

Normally the wavy lines do not go all the way to the end. Barrels are cut for numerous reasons but the top three reasons are (1) damage in one of the barrels (2) to reduce the chokes and (3) just to make the barrels shorter. Being that the barrels you mention are cut 1 and 1/8th inch, I would suspect there was damage and that was how much was needed to clean up.

I would second that hypothesis!

The experience I have had with barrels cut 1 inch is awesome. Chokes went from full and mod--- to mod and skeet. Patterns beautiful , and shoots to point of aim. I believe if you remove 2 inches or more , you will probably mess with the point of aim, and have to regulate accordingly. The nice thing about guns with bad or cut barrels is that they are cheap. Bid accordingly. Dave

I sure wouldn't argue with anyone about their findings on this , guns with cut barrels seem to all perform a bit differently but I am in Jents court ,I have just not had good luck patterning Barrels that have been cut ! Russ

It is my belief that the lack of good patterns becomes more apparent at longer yardages on cut barrel guns. On reason I say this is because of a DH I have that was factory cut from 30" to 26" Its a great skeet/short range gun but leaves me wanting at longer ranges. It patterns great at 25/30 yards but after that not so much.

Here's a couple of pictures.

They look cut to me Chris.

It looks like that front bead is slighty off center to the right.

The lack of keels indicates to me that they were cut by other than Parker Bros.

They certainly look cut to me as well, as there is no end "margin" in the matting. Also the sight bead looks off center.
JJV

I'd love to know why, by the SN book it was 1 of 60 with 26" Parker Steel barrels in 12g, I thought I might get lucky with the 1 of 1 with 25".

Chris ,It is a shame ,but as Dean previously stated ,there really are only a couple of reasons for some one shortening a set of Barrels ,Thank the Lord ,this practice isn't going on much in todays World ! Now if we can't hit what we are shooting at ,we can buy Spreader Loads for these old Tight Choked Doubles !

No question they were cut, but it looks like there may still be some choke because there is a good amount of wall thickness left.