to cut or not to cut
 

I've located an early 1900s VH 12 with 30" barrels. Overall, gun is good-very good, sound, tight, bright bores, etc. Problem is someone reamed one choke to cylinder (other is full). Is better to leave it alone or possibly cut barrels to 26-28" and have two cylinder barrels for quail, etc.? Thanks for your opinions.

Forrest,

No, no, no! If you cut a quarter inch off the barrels the gun will be worth only half of what it was before!

The British use cylinder and full for field guns. I have a Henry Atkin sidelock 10 gauge with those choke constrictions. At 8 pounds it is deadly in the field!

Load the open barrel with larger shot. It will pattern tightly. Use smaller shot in the full choke barrel.

Please, never cut barrels...
Mark

Thank you Mark, what I thought, will take your advice.

Listen to Mark, the original length is important

and by the way- the only gun i have had modified was a 28" Fox 20 that needed work anyway. it was very full and fuller with modern loads.

Its a grouse/woodcock gun and I had the chokes made skeet1 and imp mod (just under full) - it is a great upland combination.

i don't shred a close bird if i hit it and can still reach out after I miss with the right and manage to regain some composure before using the left.

By all means don't cut the barrels. Pattern it, then try it in the field on game birds. You might be surprised to find that this gun has perfect chokes for your purpose.
IMO, the best set up for a bird gun is a quality two trigger SxS, with an open first barrel, and a tight second barrel.
You may have the perfect quail gun. If the patterns don't work for you, sell it, and find one better suited to your needs.
The best way to modify a Parker, is to modify who owns it, by finding one that fits your needs.

I have found that Cylinder and full is a pretty good combination to have.

Thanks fellas, I promise not to cut barrels, only modification I will make is repair toe and add repro buttplate (unless someone has an original they will sell).

This is the gun: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Parke...D16&Ntt=parker

Yup,My PH 16 gauge 26" gun was factory ordered cyl/full. A great upland combination.

Did anyone tell you the chokes were reamed out? Chances are the chokes are original. Nice gun, rare ball grip.