[jay shachter]

Robin, I would correct that not all uncut barrels touch at the muzzles. The barrels were regulated to shoot to point of aim, and sometimes needed to be adjusted prior to finishing them up. There was a wedge inserted between the barrels and as they were tested as to where the point of impact was, the wedge was manuvered until the desired results were acheived. They could care less how close the two barrels were to contacting, but cared about shot patterns impacting correctly downrange. I had a Fox CE 20ga. with a 30" set of #4 weight Fox barrels, factory lettered for 3" chambers, made in 1912 (they didn't manufacture 3" 20ga. shells then) with nearly 3/16" gap between them that hit to point of aim at 40 yards. It was an awesome gun and one that I am trying to buy back. Point is that it broke alot of rules; the chambers were not lengthened aftermarket, the barrels did not touch at the muzzle.

Muzzles almost always touch or come a hair from doing so, but not always. AGAIN, FOR EVERY "HARD RULE" THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. VERY FEW THINGS ARE ALWAYS OR NEVER. New guys offer unfounded opinions too much, listen too little, and put too much store into what they read. It takes time and experience to see all the variations that occur with these fine guns. I ALWAYS LISTEN INTENTLY WHEN I CAN BE PART OF A CONVERSATION WHERE AT LEAST ONE OF THE SPEAKERS is over 65 years old and HAS BEEN AVIDLY COLLECTING FOR MOST OF THEIR LIVES. You gain more from that than the books can give you. Cherish it now, for the older gents are short on earth. Every generation that goes by we get farther from the guys that were there when it all happened!