The biggest fallacy of a "Doll's Head is that it plays any part in "Holding the Bbls Down" to the frame. It was not intended to & in fact cannot hold the bbls down. A DS/I grade Lefever with only a straight rib extension, effectively has had the Doll's Head" removed, that being the "Swelled Out" portion at the end of the rib extension. The locking bolt on the DS engaging the notch in the rib extension "Holds the Bbls Down" quite as effectively as it does on the H or higher grades. I understand what you are saying Jim, but just to make sure everyone does, for your statement to be true the Rib Extension would have to be entirely removed. Just removing the doll's head portion of it would not allow the bbls to fall open. The longevity of the DS/I grade guns is probably ample evidence that the strength of a Lefever frame is adequate for its job without the re-enforcement of the doll's head. There can be little doubt though from a purely mechanical standpoint that adding that extra joint cannot help but re-enfore the frame against the axial thrust applied to it. That is as long as it is properly & well fitted, which most Lefevers seem to be.
This is almost certainly untrue on cheaply made guns which need the extra strength even more, & is probably what has given the doll's head a bad name, as they are often found on such guns with enough clearence between them & their mortise to throw a cat through. With a fit like that it is of course totally useless.
