SBT questions; help!
 

I'm looking at this one; serial #212959. I only have a couple of bad photos at this point. Thing is, the barrel measures 27-1/4". I would say for sure it's been cut except that it still has a lot of choke. Any chance the barrel length is original? The stock has the typical problems: ugly pad, plexiglas spacer, etc. Overall condition is very nice, lock up is tight, etc. Any ideas on a fair price, or is this simply one to walk away from?

Or should I just buy the Miroku Browning with 34" barrels for less money :)

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book said 34 inch barrel

What is the exact bore diameter and what is the exact choke length and constriction? Can you also give us a closeup of the last rib stantion. I assume this is Michael Murphy's gun that he has been so evasive about. Maybe now we'll figure it out.

I don't have access to those dimensions nor any way to measure them; I just know my drop in gauge stopped half way between full and modified. Has anyone asked the seller for them? I do have some more shots; I'll see if they're of any help when I get home tonight.

Later: I asked for the bore diameter, choke length and constriction; he says the choke is .034; didn't supply anything else.

Are you referring to the Parker Story? If so, where is that information located? I took a quick look at my copy earlier today but didn't know where to find it.

At that odd length, it is cut. And the record book info about 34" supports that too. They did offer 28" length in the SBT guns, but they would have been very rare and they would have been exactly 28".
Most of the trap guns did have a lot of choke constriction. But I would find it hard to believe is went much farther back than 4-5" from the muzzle. But it could.

I have an SC with 32" barrels and .050" of choke.

With modern shot cups in shells, that choke and barrel length would likely still work well for you in trap. But unless the price of the gun reflects a cut barrel, I would pass on it.

Fin,

No doubt, the esteemed Mr. Bishop will probably share with us that several SC's were ordered with 27 1/4" barrels....all for the Czar of Luxembourg!!

I think the real question is, would you be happy shooting even recreational trap with a 27" gun? I would strongly advise that you beg, borrow or steal a comrades 32" gun and give it a test drive. My guess is that you would find that length far more comfortable/ enjoyable to shoot and I believe your scores would improve slightly as a result. I own and shoot several vintage SBT's and honestly, when I drop down to a 30" gun, I become one of the true leaders in clay conservation! :banghead:

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Sorry folks; this is the best I can do.

And TM, thanks for your very sound advice. I knew it once I actually looked at the gun and realized what I saw, even if I didn't want it to be true! What a shame; such a lovely gun!

But here's the thing: I'm not a real trap shooter, what little I do shoot is to improve the chances that I might actually hit a bird or two come fall. Still, I've always loved those SBT's, and the romance of the image of me pulling up at the club in necktie and fedora, opening up my leg o' mutton case, setting up my single barrel, and blasting a few clays into oblivion. And with that in mind, I tried to convince myself that, at the right price, maybe I could live with the short barrel. Sigh.

Sorry, I must repeat that a bore diameter and choke diameter and length will tell the tale. If a guy who has sold $100,000 guns in his career doesn't own or admit to owning a choke micrometer, he is trying to cheat you. He knows the bore diameter and isn't telling you what it is.

Would you be willing to give a novice like myself an idea of what, in your opinion, such a price might be?

This is what the end of an SBT barrel should look like.
And as with most other Parker barrels, the rib matting should terminate before the end.

Attachment 33895

You can see the filler piece that was put in on that shortened one you are looking at.