doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Barrels touching/not touching fact or fiction

I always have been weary when purchasing a gun when the barrels dont touch, I have always taken that bit of advice to heart for cut barrels. The other day in the office another gentleman (who collects as well) and I had that discussion. He says its not always true and would be willing to purchase one with the barrels not touching for the right price. I maintain my stance, but when does this become more fallacy than fact? Just curious your thoughts or opinions? Happy Easter to those who still believe!

These four Ansley H. Fox 26-inch barrel doubles all letter as such --



The barrel tubes of my CSMC RBLs don't come anywhere near touching --



28-inch .410-bore, 30-inch 28-gauge, 28-inch 20-gauge, 29-inch 16-gauge and 30-inch lightweight 12-gauge.

I am also one who used to subscribe to the theory that if they didn't touch they had been cut. It was pointed out to me by many that isn't always the case. I submit as evidence the below picture of a bunch of Fox barrels which certainly don't touch. However, they all letter as being 100 percent correct.



here is a 16 GA CE 28" barrels, factory letter

If you think about it a bit, you can understand why they don't always touch. If the barrels are set up to have the axis of their bores intersect at some specific distance, say 40 yds, whether they touch at the muzzles or not depends on the thickness at the breech and the length of the barrels, unless he barrels are bent in the middle for the shorter lengths.

It has more to do with the chosen jointing method. Dovetail lump guns need more space between the barrels to accomodate the lump, same for shoe lump. Wider in the back means the muzzles will more likely have some central gap, otherwise the barrels will look too steeply angled together.

Chopper lump needs less width at the chamber end and therefore is more likely to have touching muzzles. Monobloc will usually touch also.

Just my thoughts,
I've often seen the same on Fox's and Ithaca's.
But I'm guessing that some of these barrels were shortened at the factory to fill orders.
Same as with Ithaca choke stampings.
Of course, a factory letter always helps with the sale of such.
Once again, not really rare or uncommon, wise to be wary, never say never.

Not just American doubles. I had a Beretta ASEL and the barrels didn't touch. It came from the original purchaser and hadn't been cut.

I think this is a subject that requires a good bit of study, personal experience and likely one not everyone will agree on each example. In my opinion AH FOX is the only early American manufacturer where such examples are frequent. I once passed a very nice two barrel AE set that was priced right, because I was sure both barrels had been cut. After more experience, I kicked myself for passing on what was very likely proper. But in my opinion, Smith, Lefever, Ithaca, etc, original space between the muzzles is more wishful than not.

I have three Lefevers where the barrels almost touch. I think they are original. One, a sixteen with 30" damascus barrels, would have had to been 32" originally to have been cut down to 30". The separations at the muzzles of those three of my Lefevers are not as much as the Foxes.

If Parker barrels don't touch I am sure they have been cut, unless a PGCA letter confirms the length.

Check out the Darne in the photos Ted posted in his "Darne waterfowler" thread. Looks to be at least a 1/4" gap at the ends of the barrels and I'm fairly certain they haven't been cut. I have an R10 that has a similar gap and likewise, I'm certain they haven't been cut.