Larry, you are confused about this-a removable sidelock double might be easier to DIAGNOIS trouble on-it isn't and won't be easier to fix than a boxlock. No way.
And, I'm sorry to break this to you, but, if you have trouble with a detachable sidelock gun, you will have to use something to get the screws out-they don't fix themselves because you removed the sidelock and looked at it.
You understand that there are screws (pins) in a sidelock, right Larry? Usually its just OWDs that I have to explain this stuff to. You might be surprised how much actual time I've spent repairing decent double guns, Larry, especially sick Darnes when I was the only parts source, let's see, in the western hemisphere.
There is no mystery to fixing a boxlock, one does need a few boxlock specialized tools, but, the parts are fewer, and easier to fit and regulate. That, in a nutshell, is why a boxlock is cheaper to begin with, cheaper to fix, and cheaper to maintain than a sidelock.
Pumps being cheaper than good doubles doesn't really surprise me, but, I'm happier that they are. They also will put up with more abuse and use than the doubles they competed against, and a gas station mechanic (as opposed to a good gunsmith-I've fixed plenty of those things, too) can usually get them running again. So, Grandpa actually did get his money's worth out of that 31 or model 12 or whatever, if you really think about it.
Best,
Ted
Darn, Ted . . . I didn't realize Darnes were sidelocks. Your gunsmithing expertise appears to exist mainly in a pretty narrow doublegun niche. If I had a sick one, I might look you up . . . but they are neither standard boxlocks nor sidelocks. So, back to the issue at hand . . . To repair a boxlock, you also have screws to remove. But you have screws to remove even to get inside and diagnose the problem to start with. So you start out ahead with the hand-detachable sidelock, then go from there.
The doubles against which the pumps competed--again, the American classic field grades--are pretty darned reliable guns. And back when both those classic pumps and classic doubles were in production, not much of a problem getting parts for either. Sure, those pumps are easier NOW, simply because--with so many of them around--more of them have been parted out. In some cases, new parts available for them (again, because of their numbers), while you might have to make a new part for a Parker or a Fox because there aren't as many parts floating around. And, because they weren't as numerous, not as likely that any company's going to go into the business of mass producing parts for them.
If someone held onto Grandpa's Fox rather than his Model 12 or 31, then he's made a good bit more profit off it, compared to what Grandpa paid for either.
