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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,983 Likes: 106
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,983 Likes: 106 |
Is a scalloped action on a British boxlock just for looks or is it a sign of a higher quality and superior gun?
Socialism is almost the worst.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,275 Likes: 528
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,275 Likes: 528 |
Just for looks. Or the action filer hated the guy doing the stocking?
Dustin
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,373 Likes: 6
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,373 Likes: 6 |
Buzz - do you mean to ask whether it had any functional purpose? I think most people would say that because scalloped actions require additional time and attention from the action maker and stocker, they reflect a higher quality gun, just like beaded fences.
They seemed to have been more common on Continental guns and are generally were found on guns with a higher level of finish.
CSMC builds their Foxes with scalloped actions, even though the Philly guns rarely (never?) came with that feature.
The same question could be asked about rebating the action as well.
Such a long, long time to be gone, and a short time to be there.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 245
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 245 |
A scalloped action, on any boxlock, British or not, is meant to add more action to stock contact surface, thus better distributing recoil force and a stronger overall architecture of the gun. Whether this has been proved right along time, I have no knowledge. Maybe Dig Hadoke mentions this in his new book. In any event, the scalloped action looks nicer and certainly it should be more expensive that a straight one.
EJSXS
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,384 Likes: 106
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,384 Likes: 106 |
I don't know about the "stronger" part of a scalloped action. But I do know that the only real weakness of the Ithaca SKB's was their tendency to develop cracks in the head of the stock behind the scallops.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544 |
There were many attempts by British makers to improve the 'boxy' appearance of the Anson & Deeley and, later, its derivatives.
Severe, straight, lines were efficient to produce but lacked style. Bow-backs, scalloped backs, convex backs, concave backs, chequered side panels, steel side panels, dummy side plates etc....
All were refinements applied to more expensive boxlocks to add beauty and grace. Like shaped fences and rounded angles, they require more work and the product looks classier.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,025 Likes: 51
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,025 Likes: 51 |
I believe scalloped receivers to be a sign of increased quality in that it cost more to do (metal and wood).
While I have often heard the argument about greater surface area spreading the shock of recoil, I doubt it makes much difference
Michael Dittamo Topeka, KS
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,181 Likes: 1161
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,181 Likes: 1161 |
Any "V" shape on the rear of the receiver, including the rear of a sidelock, serves to act as a wedge which can, under recoil, split the wood behind it. Poor fitting, bad wood, improper maintenance, and extended use of very heavy loads can increase the incidence of this.
I really like well done scalloping, but for the life of me I cannot see why anyone at Browning thought the rear of the receiver on a BSS looks good. I know it is a copy of an earlier design, but pretty it ain't! I shoot one a lot, but not because I think it is a handsome gun. I guess with the BSS it's "pretty is as pretty does".
SRH
An afterthought, maybe the "reverse wedge" shape of the rear of the receiver actually helps to counteract splitting.
Last edited by Stan; 09/26/12 09:34 PM.
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,530 Likes: 82
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,530 Likes: 82 |
S K B's have bolted stock so if the pressure on the "let ups " is greater than the pressure on the back then you do get splits or cracks .It is not an uncommon fault ,you can see distotion of the shoulders or side panels on a number of O/Us because of this . The box lock or " anson " as it was referred to in the Birmingham trade regardless of the make, had beveled edges to the top strap and trigger plate also on any scallops or scroll backs . The "box " on the trigger plate was also angled so that the pins when pulled up effectively wedged the stock to the action . Scallops and scroll backed guns largely decorative did have the added bonus of keeping the stock head tighter to the action and lessened the chances of the stock moving . That's the theory any way ,but they can be a bit of a pig to stock.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,936 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,936 Likes: 16 |
I scalloped the frame on a 20 gauge AH Fox and boy was it tough to stock it from scratch! Bobby
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