Ted,
I think we may have several sub-threads emerging here :-)
Kyrie,
I over simplified a bit in my analysis I suppose, and I'm sorry about that. My point was that when the A and D boxlock came along in England, it took a bit for the market to sort out which would be the best. To that end, gunmakers did indeed finish boxlocks to the same level as sidelocks, and a few, priced their boxlocks actually higher than their sidelock guns-Greener, for example, with the Facile Princepts.
I'll let others debate what makes either design "best" but, one can find English boxlocks from the era I am speaking of that have chopper lump barrels, dropper points in the stock, church windows, a scalloped action back, and intercepting sears. The engraving and finish would have been equal or superior to the same companies sidelock model.
In terms of producing box lock guns with engraving/finish equal to that on the same companys side lock guns, the Spanish went down that same road. Looking back on the catalogs from the first half of the twentieth century many makers offered side lock and box lock guns with the same engraving pattern on each type of gun, modified as needed to fit the smaller engraving area of the box lock.
--- snip ---
Now, a question, if I may?
Was there ever a time when a boxlock was AYAs, or some other gun makers, most expensive gun to buy in Spain? That did happen in England. Was there ever a Spanish boxlock that included all the features I named above, and sold for more money than the companies top of the line sidelock, to the best of your knowledge?
I dont think the question can be answered as asked. Going back into the 1920s to about the 1950s, I could walk into any gun maker that offered both box lock guns and side lock guns, order a base model box lock, and add enough options to make that base model box lock more expensive than the top side lock, as cataloged.
(Aside: Hmmm I could probably do that today at, say, AyA by ordering a 28 gauge N 4/53 with a really elaborate engraving pattern from the 1950s, extra barrels in .410 and 32 gauge, and adding a H&H assisted opener.)
In terms of the type of barrels, Id have been offered a choice that included chopper lump, monoblock, and a possible a few other options. Secondary sears were pretty much standard but could be omitted on request. Action shape (straight, scalloped in any of several styles) was to customer choice. I dont know what dropper points or church windows are.
Have I misunderstood the question?
