While I'm reluctant to say that 26" bbl.'s were the norm for double guns of the O/U persuation being used for skeet until the mid 70's, they were not uncommon. And while they have fallen out of favor today, they only await some modern Churchill to come along advocationg short bbl.'s to have a new following. I've never found them disadvantagous for low gun skeet, upland game behind a dog or snap shooting dove. Just saying.