JohnUK
Has described what I'm thinking about. Higher and lower effort at different places in the cocking cycle.
We have to thank the late Gough Thomas for articulating that, not me. G.T. was fond of the Beesley (Purdey) action and had a new gun made by Henry Atkin in which he was most particular that it should be smooth to close.
In the Beesley with ejectors (and there are some without), the tumblers are lifted (reset) on opening, but on closing, the mainsprings (which are also responsible for the self opening) are tensioned AND the ejectors cocked. There is a lot going on - and to get it all working with a uniform smooth force is difficult - which may be the reason that so few makers have made this action in any quantity.
Making fairly complex mechanical linkages work smoothly is quite hard .... but its much harder to make them so they stay smooth and tight with 100 years or more of use. That is where the skills of the Purdey and Atkin craftsmen and the lockmakers they used are so outstanding. This smoothness and silky operation that lasts through the decades is all a part of what real BEST gunmaking is about.
