Mills, I couldn't disagree with you more about original two barrel sets. First they offer the owner an immediately available, fitted replacement set of barrels that are "correct" to that gun, should the first set become damaged or destroyed. How many otherwise nice Parker guns have you seen that have been relegated to wall hanger status or cannibalized for parts due to barrel damage, excessive pitting, etc?
Each year there are fewer original configuration shootable Parker Brother guns existent, but each year there seems to be an increase in the number of available orphan receivers for sale. I wish that all Parker guns had originally been built with at least two sets of barrels. If we accept Rich's premise that 95% of the time the second set of barrels wouldn't have seen use, then a lot of these guns would still be in service.
Rich, I always like the idea of buying two guns better than just one. Imagine you could back to 1932 and order a new Parker VH gun. Lets say it is an 0 frame VH 28 with 28 inc barrels. Fast forward to today and if all goes well the gun is worth the appreciated value of one VH 28. If, however, you were to were to fall, let's say last year while grouse hunting and the barrels on the VH 28 were damaged beyond repair, you are left with essentially the value of some 0 frame VH 20 grade assorted extra parts, basically a win or loss situation. On the other hand, suppose you had ordered a second original barrel in the same configuration. Fast forward to today. If all went well you would have the value of a complete VH 28 plus you could sell that second 28 ga. barrel for enough to buy another nice VH 20 or two. If you still suffered that fall, you would still have the extra barrel that would allow you to retain the full value of a complete VH 28 plus an extra monoblock, a win win or win situation. My vote will always be for more original Parker guns with more original Parker barrels and more PGCA members.
