and what we have not discussed here is aesthetics...

the image of the classic prewar sxs field gun is very pleasing to the eye, from most any angle...

on the contrary, the post war o/u target gun, is to be frank, rather ugly, regardless of the viewing angle...

here is a simple test...hang a classic sxs on the wall and step back and admire the beauty and harmony of its lines and observe how everything flows to create a natural dynamic mean, at the tip of the splinter forend...then hang your favorite o/u on the wall. what do you see? just a rather boring, clubby looking, mundate thing, that does a very good job of breaking clay birds...

as someone once asked, why kill a beautiful bird with an ugly gun?

keep it simple and keep it safe...