doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Were these barrels shortened?

I purchased a mid-grade Claybrough & Johnstone and been doing a bit of restoration on it. I was measuring the barrels and noticed the muzzle is not at right angles. The barrels have been honed with one at cylinder and the other improved modified choked. The imp mod choke is only 2" long. Barrels measure spot on 30". It looks from the end of the muzzle they weren't cut. I'm wondering if time and wear could have worn them down?

Tamid,
I have no idea how Claybrough & Johnstone did it, but some people did that procedure to adjust the location of the patterns.
Mike

Not sure I understand Mike, but are you saying that some makers made muzzles at an angle, and not perfectly at right angles, to adjust patterns? That is a new one on me, if so.

SRH

Stan,
No. they would typically be made "square", but I believe some were later filed at an angle in an effort to move the centers of the patterns. I have seen a pattern moved with a reamer, but I can't say from personal experience how well filing works. I believe it can at least move the center a small distance.
Mike

The first thought I had when looking at it was that it looked like one of my turkey guns that had been filed to change point of impact.

We have discussed the filing method on this forum before, and it most definitely will work if you are using plastic wads in your shells.

Yes, it does work. Have done a number, even a C&J by coincidence.
A very light chamfer on the inside at the muzzle work well, and may be unnoticeable... unlike filing the muzzle at an angle.

Using Coosa's method I have moved a barrel pattern at 16 yards left 6". Took about ten minutes to do it. I was amazed and so was the friend with me who thought I was a wizard. Same friend thought I was nuts when I took my pump gun, stuck it in a "Y" and bent the barrel to point of aim.

Builder, my first 'real' shotgun after the .410 stage was a 20ga Remington model 31 my mother had fallen into a gulley with while bird hunting. She bent the barrel sideways, either right or left, I can't remember. I learned to shoot that gun by holding off to compensate for the bend. Finally, I took it to a country gunsmith who went out to his front yard to a forked tree and bent the barrel back straight. I never could shoot it as well after he fixed it, because it was shooting straight...Geo

Wonderful story George. I wish I had some but I am the first hunter/shooter in my family.

I am going to send this thread to a high end engraver and have it engraved on a silver plate. How do you spell "sheesh"?