Is my gun illegitimate?

David Penland · 01-26-2016, 02:22 PM

Got my letter for my GH 20 gauge today! Great turnaround time. The letter states my gun left the factory as a 16 gauge with Damascus barrels. Since the gun actually has Vulcan steel barrels, is it possible someone decided to convert it to a twenty rather than a sixteen? Current barrels are the same length as original sixteen Damascus barrels which were 28". The barrel flats are stamped Parker proved and have a HTA, V in a circle and a weight of 3.1, lug is marked 20 and 0. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Jim DiSpagno · 01-26-2016, 02:29 PM

Any Remington repair codes on the left barrel flat and do the serial numbers match the frame?

OH Osthaus · 01-26-2016, 02:45 PM

Are the barrels serial numbered to the gun?

I think there have been several factory rebarreled guns discussed in the past

George M. Purtill Member #28 · 01-26-2016, 02:47 PM

Maybe the letter is wrong. The documents that Chuck works with are not exactly clear- in fact they are downright fuzzy.

Bill Murphy · 01-26-2016, 03:15 PM

Yes, check with Chuck for a confirmation. It is not unusual for a Damascus gun to be retrofitted with steel barrels and not be documented in factory records.

B. Dudley · 01-26-2016, 03:16 PM

The style of buttplate on the gun (if it still has one) will help confirm original gauge.

0 frame 16g guns used a larger buttplate than 0 frame 20g guns. So if your plate is the larger "1" style, then it was originally a 16g.

David Penland · 01-26-2016, 03:50 PM

There are no repair codes. The serial number matches the gun. Will try and post a pic of butt plate.

Opening Day · 01-26-2016, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Yes, check with Chuck for a confirmation. It is not unusual for a Damascus gun to be retrofitted with steel barrels and not be documented in factory records.

Yes I have a AHE like that, 20/28 gauge barrels fitted for it by Remington but born with 16 gauge barrels.

B. Dudley · 01-26-2016, 04:01 PM

Dave,
That is the number 1 size buttplate. So, that would mean your gun was built as a 16g originally.

Your gun was either rebarreled by Meriden. Or maybe later on by someone else. I have seen some guns before that were rebarreled by Lefever Arms in the 1960s and 70s. They had a lot of left over parker parts inventory as well as a lot of factory equiptment and they were well equipt for rebarreling Parkers with NOS barrel sets.

David Penland · 01-26-2016, 04:16 PM

Thanks to everyone for all the information. Even thought the gun started life as a 16, it shoots and handles awesome as a 20!