Have owned a coupla Cutts guns. Usually they're found with just the "spreader" tube installed, some previous owner having long ago lost the other tubes. 12 ga tubes seem readily available, but smaller gauge tubes are less so (almost unobtainium in the case of .410s).
Myth #1: you can't shoot modern shotcup loads through a Cutts. Pure bunk. Using shotcup loads, spreader tubes usually throw patterns a smidge tighter than factory "skeet"/WS1 in .410 and 20. The 12 ga Speader/Skeet tube throws just like WS1 (which is about like IC). Have not patterned the 28.
Compensators add weight out front - whether this is "good" depends on the shooter. Compensators increase noise levels to those standing to the side or obliquely behind, as is the case with ported rifles and shotguns.
Myth #2: you can't shoot them with the choke tube unscrewed. Bunk. Cutts compensators are not difficult to clean or maintain, and you can unscrew them to get a cylinder pattern without hurting anything. If you choose to do this you just need to carefully clean up the threads before reinstalling the tube. I suppose you could have someone make up a thread protector sleeve with notches at top to facilitate removal, but I never bothered.
Polychokes make alot of sense on a field gun, IMO. They were not so commonly installed on skeet guns.
Sam
