I have had a number of guns put back on face over the years using either a new pin or tig welding the hook. None have ever addressed the fit of the rear lug on the circle. It seems to me that a good contact here would do more to relieve strain on the hinge pin than any other repair. What say ye?

When the gun is new it would have/should have a bearing on this surface.Its called the 'draw'.When the gun is rejointed the barrels move backwards towards the breachface and the back lump bearing comes off the draw.Some top end shotguns and double rifles have a detachable draw that can be replaced to bring this bearing back each time it is rejointed.Otherwise you just have to leave it.Most guns seem to hold up ok without it and some italian O/Us have even eliminated it.I dont know how long a large double rifle would last without a good draw bearing though and I would tend to have a look at some way of making a detachable draw in the action.It doesn't have to be large and its recess can be spark eroded in.

Joe,

There is an excellent piece on this exact subject in a back issue of SSM. I just reread it recently, but cannot find it again. Perhaps someone else will know which issue.

SRH

Joe, in my book "Gun Craft" there is a chapter specifically on this topic -- "Jointing and the Circle." (Pugwash is correct in his comments about rejointing pushing contact off the circle on traditionally made guns.) I worked with 5 of Britain's best actioners to write it, and it has diagrams drawn by gunmaker (actioner) Bob Turner with the dimensional tolerances for SxS shotguns and double rifles. It also has photos of the replaceable hardened insert that some gunmakers now use to keep bearing on the circle if a gun is rejointed.

As Stan notes it is adapted from an article I wrote for SSM. If you can't locate a copy, I'd be happy to e-mail you a copy of the chapter. PM me with your address, please.

July/August 2010 issue of Shooting Sportsman has the article by Mr Venters.