doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Opinions sought regarding sidelock over unders

I've built several scaled Highwalls for warmups
See thread this site or google markmharris.com

Now it's time to build sidelock overunders.

So what's the best? Hint: Fabbri
ok, now that that's settled :-) what's close?
where is there room for improvement?
how do i get photos and measurements?

any severely damaged ones for sale/rent reasonable
cracked frame fine for my needs


What else should I be asking?

thanks
mark

Sorry but why Fabbri? What about Famars (Abbiatico & Salvinelli)?

JC

Harris:
At the risk of starting an interminable thread, may I suggest that the "best" has already been achieved. For bench-made guns, the Westely Ovundo, or Woodward (Purdey) are beyond reproach. For sheer armour against all the slings and arrows, the Browning B25 (Superposed) is arguably "best." Without knowing your purpose, why try to re-invent the wheel? You can't make a Fabbri. You don't have rights to a Woodward. And you can't do better than a B25. What's the point? With all kind respect...

Kensal

PS: I know something of the "highwall" or Winchester Single-Shot rifle. You do good work.

A more "moderately" priced sidelock over/under shotgun is the Merkel 303 series, a wonderful gun in it's own right. Other companies have "cloned" that design (AyA, Ugartechea just as examples) so patent rights may be gone. May not be in the same class as a Woodward/Purdey, but it's an excellent design and highly prized by those that own them.

JC

Thank you
Famars is acknowledged among the very best.
I've shot them and use to own and shoot an older Castore which
was sold to raise money to build over unders.
Have handled but not shot numerous Italian OUs and there
is a feel to the good ones.
But Fabbri is generally considered to be the best
I'm hoping experts will chime in with exactly why.
If I knew I wouldn't be asking.
thanks again.
Mark

Kensal,

Browning is nice but not a work of art by any stretch.

Bench made British guns from between the wars are irreplaceable and expensive and modern Italian guns
are expensive and glorious.


What's the point?

1)I admire fine guns
2)I want to make a living.
3)I strongly feel that a best quality OU could be made and sold
for far less than is presently offered.

Combine the 3 thoughts and it's a windmill well worth tilting.

So a conversation is started and hopefully knowledge will be
forthcoming.

thank you
mark

Woodward is the best. Not the cheapest or easiest, but it is the best. Not warts I'm aware of. However, the original workmen set a mighty high standard!

Hi, mark, I read you post and the reply's. I agree with the comments of Chief shotguns and Kensal. The best is been achieved. Why not try te bring to revival the O/U from Edwinson Green. Or the sextuple grip from Purdey,who was to heavy as a game gun, but for a skilled gunmaker like you it is possible to make a clay gun from it.
I am sure there is market for it in the U.S.
You can also try to make a low profile A. CORDY once one of our best Belgian gunmakers.

Fabbri lock design has been constantly evolving and now is effectively a trigger plate lock. the sideplates are access covers. Proper sidelocks are an anachronism and have been for some time. Functionally there is no longer (was there ever?) any advantage to the design, it has merely hung on thru inertia. The A10, or whatever it is from ConnArms, is as modern a true sidelock as anybody needs at a fairly reasonable price. It will be just way past easy to beat CA as a package in the marketplace. Good luck on that. Current Beretta sidelocks are pretty cool too for a pile more money. Older ones back to the '50's are marginally different but still at a level that doesn't need "fixing". And there are of course a buncha gunmakers that still will fill that need for the appropriate money.

The most demanding community in terms of both function and durability, international competition, has seen in the last few years coil springs finally being accepted. Of course Perazzi has been a good part of that with their coil spring drop outs, tho the trigger plate guns have been in there too. Life in modern times, eh?

But if you think the world needs a "better" sidelock and you can build it - I say go for it.
And best of luck

WtS

Mark,

Don't think there are any cracked frame Fabbris....

I have only handled one Fabbri and from what I could tell it was absolutely without flaw, wonderful to handle and to look at, a best gun in every way.

Good luck with your project!