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Forums10
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 156 Likes: 17
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 156 Likes: 17 |
Here's one I can't wait to get back from an extensive rehab. I guess have shown it here before. Opening it seems natural but never really considered whether a left hand lever would be more practical until this thread discussed it. 
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,983 Likes: 106
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,983 Likes: 106 |
I know side levers are popular and likely utilitarian, but to my eye, not as aesthetically pleasing as the ubiquitous top lever.
Socialism is almost the worst.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
If they were popular they wouldn't have fallen from favor.
Having saw one of the worlds biggest mouse trap collections first hand it's easy to see where the term "building a better mouse trap" came from....the hundreds of different models would amaze you.
Guns are similar only the greatest designs prevail.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,380 Likes: 105
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,380 Likes: 105 |
Conclusion of the whole matter is there Ain't No Perfect Mechanism I don't care what field you are in. All are compromises to some extent or the other.
No two people value the exact same things. Just because I say something is Not My Favorite is not to say it is Altogether Bad.
Larry is this written plain enough that even you can understand it??
I don't believe anyone said that there's a perfect mechanism, Miller. But there are clearly some that stand the test of time better than others. And that's fact vs opinion . . . which is what you or I might consider to be our "favorite". And it's a fact that the top lever has stood the test of time better than any other opening mechanism on doubles. And while the A&D has more surviving challengers than does the top lever, it has also stood the test of time better--in terms of numbers produced--than any of those rivals.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
Larry;
It seems you still have a problem understanding what you read. NOWHERE in my posting did I dispute the "Fact" that either the top lever or the A&D action has stood the test of time.
My sole point was that just because one mechanism has stood the test of time, even to the point of near exclusion of all others does not automatically mean the others are all "Worthless Junk" which was the implication to which I made my first reply.
There is absolutely no reason anyone who is fortunate enough to own a nice sidelever, underlever, thumb push or whatever should not Use & Enjoy it & fret not because it isn't a top lever. Certainly not every one believes the A&D action is the end all of gun design.
That's all I have said on this subject. Really my one original post should have been sufficient except for several trying to make me appear as a "Total Dummy" just because I do not accept some exclusive theory.
I have never argued about the "Numbers" of the top lever or A&D action. I still stand firm in my belief that numbers aren't everything. Perhaps instead of saying "Lonely at the Top" I should have just said "Sometimes it's Lonely when you're in the Minority" but then I am more of a mechanical type person than a Fancy Writer. Often times the Minority can be Right.
Last edited by 2-piper; 07/30/18 09:46 AM. Reason: put the apostrophe in it's, got to be grammatically correct here less all I say be considered Junk.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
JB;
Nice looking old double. That gun has much the same configuration as the W Richards I mentioned, except the W Richards has the lever on the left. Shape of locks, rounded action bar, hammer shape etc are all very similar. Your gun is I would guess of a bit higher original quality than my Richards & in much better present condition from what I can see in the pictures. My Richards had the bores proofed as a 14 but it precedes the chamber mark which was introduced in 1887. It does currently have 12 gauge chambers.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 156 Likes: 17
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 156 Likes: 17 |
Thanks Miller. I agree about the high initial quality of my Holland & Holland. Present condition though leaves a lot to be desired. Should be quite nice when done. I have yet to follow up on the provenance but likely early 1870's d.o.m.
I do admire those Grants but no external hammers (like that will ever catch on...)
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
JB;
AAH, H&H. from the pictures I could see the engraving was way ahead of mine, but had no idea as to the make. Obviously this old Clabrough built gun is nowhere in that league. I am still firmly of the belief that the side lever would not have vanished so quickly if more makers had simply had the foresight to have put it on the left side where it would have been under the thumb.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,380 Likes: 105
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,380 Likes: 105 |
I have never argued about the "Numbers" of the top lever or A&D action. I still stand firm in my belief that numbers aren't everything. Perhaps instead of saying "Lonely at the Top" I should have just said "Sometimes it's Lonely when you're in the Minority" but then I am more of a mechanical type person than a Fancy Writer. Often times the Minority can be Right. Well Miller, "Fancy" gun writers are a REAL minority. They don't make enough money to qualify as "Fancy". Of course having someone sell you a pretty nice new gun at an attractive price is a nice perk of the job, so they may end up toting a fancier gun than others at a similar income level. And while having a certain facility with the English language is a requirement of the job, that also fails to move one into "Fancy" territory. Take a look at what English majors earn after they graduate.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
Larry do you ever tire of looking like a fOOl ?
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