I don't think it is fair to compare these guns to W&S 700-series guns (nice guns, I own one but a totally different beast from these apparently unique guns). The fact that this is a garniture, with such an unusual and beautifully executed interface of top lever, barrel extension and fences reflects a level of effort that should equate to best. For a boxlock, this has to be near the apex of a gunmaker's art - whether that is the same thing as a "best" sidelock I will leave for others to debate.

I would love to have heard the discussion that went on at Harkom as these guns were conceived and built!

Such a long, long time to be gone, and a short time to be there.