VH with 24" barrels - cut?

[Phil Yearout]

Reminds me of Gene Hill's The Woodcock Gun. "...He must have been an independent Yankee cuss. I'll bet it was the only 24-inch side-by-side in all New England. There must have been some laughs and jokes around the cider mill when he first showed it off!"

[Gunner]

Phil, I will have to get a copy of that book but I assure you that the author had some company. My 25" DH was originally shipped to VT and ended up in Union ME with a family member. 24" DHE came from Camden. 24" VH barrels only, part of a 2 barrel set came off Vinalhaven but probably originated with last owners grandfather from Boston. New England apparently had its share of gunners that saw merit in short barrels.

Wednesday at a FL flea market I saw a Trojan 2 barrel set with barrels and forends both numbered 1 & 2. Serialization book lists it as a 28" without options but the 24" barrels and forend were both numbered to the rest of the gun. I couldn't be sure that the short barrels are original but the barrels touched with the rib matting running to the end of the barrels. At the same flea market got a rush from a VH 3 fr with 32" barrels. I thought I had discovered a 10 ga VH but it turned out to be a 12 ga 3 fr. Gun was rough so I didn't follow up on it.
Erick

On Wednesday I saw a