25 years ago, the 26" barrels seemed to fetch more, now the longer barrels are in demand.
In my opinion, it is because of the demise of much of our upland hunting, such as the decline in the grouse and quail populations. Open chokes and lighter guns were popular.
With fewer game birds, we now shoot sporting clays, etc where the longer barrels really shine..
I have a DHE 16 and a VH 20 both ordered with 26" cyl/mod chokes, both O frames, these were/are real upland bird guns. A lightweight 26" 12 ga would make a great gun for all day carry in the plains for pheasant, sharptails , etc
Wow, just saw Al Limone's PH 12, 1 frame, w/ 26" in the for sale listing--that's a beauty!!
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"How kind it is that most of us will never know when we have fired our last shot"--Nash Buckingham
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