Cut or Original ??
 

This is a Parker 20 gauge from 1917. Originally a 25 1/2" gun per records that now measures 25 1/4". Original or has someone trimmed it, opinions please ?

Is the “lower” barrel slightly out of round or is it my eye or camera angle.
Gap at end of appears to be slightly less than others that I have seen on ones that have had the gap. Not an expert by any means though.

The out of round appearance caught my eye as well, I have not inquired about that as of yet.

I would say most likely correct if letter says 25 1/2. Would like to see letter.

It is in the books as a 25 1/2" gun but I do not have a letter. Just kicking tires for now on this one James, it would be a neat little grouser and an oddity at that barrel length.

If its a shooter and the price is right I wouldnt worry about a 1/4 inch

I say “original” judging by the fact that the keels are in place and the perpendicular termination line and blank space beyond it are all still there.

What difference would 1/4” make anyway? The chokes would not have been affected by a reduction of 1/4”. Parker customarily bores chokes with from 0” to as much as 3/8” of “parallel” bore at the muzzle. “Trimmed” barrels are not uncommon and IMO do not detract from a ‘shooter’ gun’s value.





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It looks like a PH… is it?





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Correct Dean...

Randy, looking at the muzzle, straight on, there is nothing to support either argument. In my opinion, the termination line is the giveaway. If you were to add a full quarter inch to the existing blank portion, it wouldn't look like any rib I've ever seen, so I would have to say it's original.