doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - Beesley Single Trigger

It sounds like English single triggers are highly suspect. Are they just bad or just hard to work on? Does anyone know who's single Beesley would have used ? Is there a way to identify which one it is and are there some just to stay away from?

Tom, Italy perfected the single trigger for double guns ages ago. Beretta, Perazzi, Guerini, Zoli single triggers are as perfect as any machinery gets. Maybe the "good lord" of double guns decided that, but Italy wasn't listening, or Germany either for that matter.

There are two features that get an undeserved bad rep on this forum, single triggers and ejectors. Yes, there are bad examples of both. But, that only proves that some of the makers just didn't get it right ....... not that it can't be done. Just for the record, I still prefer double triggers, on hunting guns. But not because there aren't dependable single triggers. I prefer them because of instant choke selection.

The reliable single triggers are generally on s/s guns with solid frame actions with a stock bolt ,thus nothing gets out of whack due to wood shrinkage,restocking etc.Obviously most classic British guns were not built to that construction ,so their single triggers suffer from any of the above ,plus the 100yrs+ of use that most have had.Buy 2 triggers.

Frederick Beesley instigated five patents for single triggers in the late 1890s. He tended to fit one or other of these to his guns. His single trigger was written up favourably by Teesdale-Buckle in his 'Experts on Guns & Shooting' book, including a test he carried out on a Beesley fitted with the patent single trigger. The chapter on Beesley also carries descriptions and illustrations of the single trigger mechanism. I quote:

"In fact, the gun shot as perfectly as we could wish, the second barrel never once failing to go when required, and no simultaneous discharge whatever taking place throughout the trial (250 shots in quick time), with various heavy and light loads."

As was the case with many of Beesley's intriguing and technically exquisite ideas and patents, witness the Purdey action he designed, very fine tolerances were required, along with first class workmanship, when making up, regulating and fitting these mechanisms, as well as, importantly, during their subsequent servicing during use.

Regretfully I’m going pass on this gun , besides the fact single triggers just don’t look right. lol. Yesterday I had a chat with my gunsmith and a very respected bloke from England and neither were complementary on single triggers on a 100 year old gun.

I've got a Scott Premier circa 1924 with SST that is a Lard via Westley Richards design. People give the L. C. Smith SST a hard time, but of all the Smiths I've had with one, and a WR droplock heavy 12 I have, they have never failed. WR put them on many of their heavy caliber double rifles, which should be a testament to their reliability. Sandlapper

One of the biggest problems with single trigger British guns was that people who knew nothing about them " had a go" and caused more problems .