To Ted's comment regarding 26" barrels.
Guns are subject to trends/fads just like all other American consumer goods. I lay much of the blame for the popularity of single triggers, beavertail forends and short barrels to Jack O'Connor's writing. Jack was very respected and had a lot of influence over the opinions of the gun buying public. This was well deserved in the field of rifles and he did much to help the riflemen of America. Lighter rifles, more accurate barrels and bullets etc.
Jack was a shotgunning amateur. By his own admission he never broke a 25 at 16 yard trap and I am not sure he ever broke a 25 at skeet. His upland hunting experience was long but thin. Yet he held forth on shotguns like he had somehow earned credibility in the field. He tried to make his shotguns like his rifles. ( I strongly suspect he was an aimer and poky shot but don't know of course.) It was a mistake. The public bought it hook line and sinker. Now the market is flooded with a lot of 1940 to 1990 guns of very undesirable specifications.
Not all his fault of course but his influence was definitely a significant factor in the way shotguns of that era were built.
Last edited by Richard Hale; 08/17/26 08:34 PM.
