doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Whats wrong with this?

The dovetail construction is done starting with a round tube, unlike dovetail chopperlump. Take a tube & cut a flat on one side of each , for mating together & bringing the C/Ls in closer. then for fitting the underlump, imagine you rotate each tube 45° & cut another flat, but not all the way across, leaving a step at lower edge. When the mating flats are thus put together the area where the lump will fit in starts to angle down & out on each side at the angle cut till it reaches the step, where it turns 90° & then angles down & back in toward C/L for a short distance. The lump then has to be machined to fit this "Dovetail". This adds more strength to the joint than had the angle just been cut completely across, leaving only the brazing to support the lump. This is a little hard to describe, but perhaps try drawing it out. As has been pointed out many high quality guns have been made by this construction, particularly those using underbolts. It would be somewhat redundant on a strictly top bolted gun as Lefever, L C Smith etc, as the force is into the brazing rather thn pulling it apart.
PS; I seem to recall the British BSA preceded the Win 21 with dovetail chopper lumps, perhaps others as well.

Miller, I think the BSA might have been the first gun with the same type dovetail chopper lump as the 21 has--although I would not swear to that.

Ted, I'd say that either the stock or the sleeving might have done unusual things to the balance. One wouldn't know that without the gun in one's hands. But you're absolutely right in indicating that the only way one of relatively modest means will ever own a Purdey or Boss would be on a gun such as this. The only Purdey I've owned--and expect will ever own--was sleeved, and had choke tubes no less! But as you've pointed out with this Boss, that probably made it a better "shooter" than if it still had its 1880's vintage original barrels.

If you get it, I'll be interested to hear how it works out for you.

Two more things, for what they are worth. I can't post photos here, just links. I have only figured out good film photography in time to realize there are few labs left with the expertise to do good developing. The digital age is upon me, and I can't find my slide rule. Typical, of my corner of the world, actually.

Lastly, Thorny's Beesley needs no appologies here. Several photos of it have come and gone, and it is a truly desirable gun with a good pedigree. If it had been cut, it is one of the few guns I can think of that we have seen here that would be worth sleeving, if it needed it, which, it doesn't.

So, there is a challenge for anyone who wants to throw rocks at Thorny and his Beesley. Show us something you have that's actually worth sleeving. I'll go first-I don't own anything worth sleeving. Not my Tobins, not my Darnes, most certainly not my pumps, but, you knew that. If the barrels go south, my doubles are wallhangers. I can live with that.
Best,
Ted

So these "dovetailed" lumps (or is it just one lump?) are not integral to the barrels? Just one piece right? Keyed in there between barrels and soldered? We should have just one word for everything in this world; such an assist to understanding! And we should note well that what you cut off and throw away is two (or perhaps four) altho looking like one and what you keep is also two (or maybe five or six) altho it looks like one except in the case of monobloc in which case there are three which look like two OR one depending on your pov. Get the torch!

jack

Larry, I thought I made this clear-I'm no hammergun guy. It just seemed like a hell of a deal when I saw it, that's all. It is easy to find bread and butter English boxlocks in this price range, but a hammer Boss?

Not this week. Not where I shop. Thats all I was thinking.
Best,
Ted

I have to agree with Ted and others about HomelessJ0e's pre-occupation with phallus imagery and Lowell's Beesley. Time for a new act J0e, this one's worn out and limp.

'Pedigrees' are nice Ted. I was really hoping you would buy it sO everytime the subject of Birmingham guns came up you could tell us common men how you owned a BOss and that Birmingham guns were for second class citizens...(maybe Lowell will loan you his 'Pedigreed' Beezley).

It would be just heart wrecking if Thorney should find out that a Birmingham firm made the parts for his Beezley...lol

If the Boss was a top lever it would've already sold.
Cox

Who cares Charlie try reading the thread ...I'm tired of a Missouri Nobleman dragging me into someones elses thread.

jOe,
If you had read the post, you would see that I shoot lowly American doubles (under-the-radar Tobins) and, Darnes. I've owned London, and, for that matter, Birmingham guns before, I just don't now. On occasion, I trip over my big feet in the woods, and now limit the value of the guns I shoot. My guns are beautiful, but, all worth less than 10 large, most by a LOT less than that. My peasant background has found me, I guess.

I have always said there should be room for everything when it comes to guns. Guys who have posted here a while (not you, by the way) will back that statement up. Cheapies, continental, English, whatever. I have room for everything in my safe as well, and own not one, but two Mossberg 500s. Go ahead, laugh. They serve a purpose. So would this Boss. So does Thorny's Beesley.
Best,
Ted

Ted I read the post and also can comprehend what I read.

Try going back to where your peasant bud drug me in this thread.