Patterns and Variations

[C.O.B.]

I wonder if Parker stockpiled individual tubes and as orders came in selected two and put sets together thus the mismatched patterns. I have a 16ga GH from the early 1900's with mismatched damascuss tubes.

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

The early twist and Laminated steel barrels are among the most mismatched tubes. I don't know what criteria were used in selecting or matching tubes.
Damascus barrels are a lot closer, but still show anomilies and changes within each tube.

[Autumn Daze]

I would think that because composite barrels were basically hand made that there would be variations constantly. I bet that if we examined barrel tubes very closely that no two were exactly alike. But unfortunately the criteria for putting together"matched sets" is lost to time.