Bespokenness is the primary quality of English guns. Bespoke means built so to suit a particular client's every whim within reason. Best simply means as good as could be made by a particular maker.

Luxury did not define a best gun. Nor was plain finish indicative of a lesser grade. The notion seems strange these days of gold inlays and fantasy engraving. Maybe clients were better informed about the essentials of quality back then.

A prewar sidelock confirmed as best by the makers, had a single trigger, right hand stock, left hand opening lever, non ejector because that is how the original buyer ordered it. He found the right to left opening lever more ergonomic than the usual left to right.

Last edited by Shotgunlover; 01/09/17 04:52 PM.