Originally Posted By: canvasback
"A manufacturer (of anything) is as likely to adopt a "feature" based upon a PERCEIVED benefit as an ACTUAL one."

Jay, I have been involved, through my work, in both watching and influencing the design and production of consumer products, specifically sporting goods hardware and footwear, where "features" are regularly included that do NOTHING to make the product better but they make the product easier to sell, based on the PERCEPTION of the marketplace. And we all knew it.


Totally agree James, can't see where I've said otherwise, maybe created an unintended inference. My suggestion that Winchester engineers in the 1920s may have thought there was real benefit in the dovetails might be wrong. Maybe as Buzz suggests in the Schwing reference there's a theoretical benefit that's of little consequence. As I said, it's surmise, none of us can know for sure.

Jay

Last edited by Gunflint Charlie; 10/31/15 10:47 PM.