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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 707
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 707 |
Over the years I've handled a lot of utilitarian boxlocks but every once in awhile I'll find a spectacular one: esteemed maker, great stock, prolific engraving, ejectors, unique fences, gold washed internals, ....basically, a spectacular boxlock.
Are such guns "best guns" or is the A&D boxlock unfit for such terminology?
And for the sake of this discussion, let's omit Westley droplocks, MacNaughton Skeletons, Dickson Rounds, etc.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,960 Likes: 89
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,960 Likes: 89 |
IMO, a gun based on an A&D action is fully qualified for a "best" rating. How could it not if its quality is of such a level it cannot be bettered. I think the term "best" has been terribly misused by the London trade as a marketing term for their products. Some have justified the label but others have been given it merely by the cachet of their name or location. Once again, this is merely the opinion of a country boy so it carries no learned weight.
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 571 Likes: 9
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 571 Likes: 9 |
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553 |
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553 |
I think that Francotte also made some of the the nicest B'Lox Guns. Especially from the the VL&D era ; Some of those older 14 & 18e Guns are lovely,,,I had one from 1904, what a looker, but it had been abused inside. The Sideplate models went from pretty damn nice to awesome..those Rushy/Viney deep cut fences still take some beating Wonderful Guns that I'd stack up with the best from anywhere I, too , have had a few, APS. That 20e Pigeon Gun I got from Bill Wise was really fine..But really heavy with the 32" tubes..wish I'd kept it now , of course. Franc
Last edited by Franc Otte; 01/10/12 01:59 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,879 Likes: 15
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,879 Likes: 15 |
I would think a Rizzini R-2 would fit the description of a boxlock best.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,274 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,274 Likes: 1 |
I learn something every day, and a lot of times it's that what I learned the day before was wrong
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 638 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2003
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 206
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 206 |
Franc. Francotte are still making best box locks. They are making one for me it should be finished in about 5 or 6 weeks. It is a .410". I just received the photographs of the engraving. The gun is being hardened this week and finished next month. I hope to collect it on my way home from the IWA 2012 show. I also have a pair of best side lock .410's on order with them. They should be finished in about 3 months.
John Foster
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 704 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 704 Likes: 1 |
I agree with Joe Wood.
As for the picture of the Greener from Franc, I don't think that is an A & D boxlock. I believe that is Greener's proprietary Facile Princips boxlock design. And that particular Greener pictured, yes, that is a "best" gun in every aspect. Imperial grade if I'm not mistaken (gold crown and scepter). Those sea shell fences are stunning.
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