At our last local gunshow examined a pair of Purdeys that had drastically downswept (bent downward) barrels. Unnoticeable when you sighted down the rib but if you held the gun with the stock parallel with the floor and looked down the barrels, the sweep was instantly dramatic and pronounced. The only other type treatment on a pair of barrels I saw anywhere near similar was on a modern-era Winchester M21, which had barrels slightly upswept. Purdeys were near 1920-ish. Is / was this a common treatment? Why was it done? I'm very curious about this! KBM
