I think I would want the barrels pointing skywards if I was decocking on a cold, wet day, trying to keep my thumb pressed onto those leaves!!
If we haven't resolved it by June I will ask David Baker his opinion as he is hoping to come to our Perrins meet.
There was loads of inovation going on around then - I have never seen one - but have read about hammer guns with barrel cocking and even ejectors - now that gives the best of everything.
John