Wives tales or not, I have an update.
I dropped off a few things to a local gunsmith's shop a week ago, one being my BC barrel. They had explicit instructions to call me with price quotes for all work requested (the apprentice was present and not the smith). I called today to see why I hadn't been contacted and they told me they cut my barrel down to 22".
At no time, EVER, did I ask for the barrel to be shortened to 22". If I wanted that, I would have bought one already that length. The gunsmith said he must have misread my writing where I wrote 27". Either way, I told him that I was very clear about getting a price quote beforehand. In the meanwhile, assisted by many of you, I decided not to have the barrel cut at all. In fact, I have a trade pending for a 22" barrel.
I think I will have another talk with the gunsmith when I return to pickup my barrel. BTW, he charged $70 to shorten and re-crown it too. I'm starting to become very aggravated with this smith already and will likely boycott him after this is all done.
I think a good summary of this can be quoted from oldsodja, "Some people's kids......"
Thanks, Dinny