CUT BARRELS?

[J. A. Early]

I think I already know the answer, but that is always dangerous.

I am looking at a 20 ga. Sterlingworth, of course advertised as "uncut" 26" barrels. I measured the chokes and it is right on .618" with .027 in the right and .031 in the left, a full and very full. So far so good, but I measured and got 25 15/16" on the right barrel length. But it was 25 7/8" on the left. I thought this may have been poorly filed to remove a bad end of one of the barrels since it would be nearly impossible to cut exactly 1/16" off by hand, so I was not concerned. The reason for not being concerned was there was 3" of choke in the left side and over 2.5" in the right or more open barrel, measured from where the choke begins.

I was not paying attention to the keels, but discovered with a pick there are no steel keels but lead. I thought they were there. The barrels touch, it shoots full patterns. Is it possible that this gun would have that much choke remaining from a cut 28" gun? That would make the left choke more than 5" and 4.5" in the right. Shouldn't a 20 ga Utica Sterlingworth have metal keels and not be just lead? There is not a lot of space there on a 20 so I do not know.

J.A.

p.s. I just joined so please help me figure this one out.

Thanks.

[bbman3]

I have seen sterlingworths without keels and barrels were original length.I have owed a good many Foxes and barrels are not always exactly 26 or whatever length they were ordered.I have even seen barrels that bottom rib was off center slightly at muzzle when soldered.Could have been after market work i guess,but looked factory. Bobby

[J. A. Early]

Bobby,

Thanks for the reply. Do you or anyone else believe with 3" and 2.5" long chokes that the barrels are probably the original length and 2" was not whacked off? I don't think any of my guns have 5" chokes. I feel better knowing that sometimes the keels were not present.

J.A.