I am not implying that ALL A&Ds are as good as a droplock, however many are AS good. The doll's head is an anachronism that makes loading and unloading (of unfired shells) difficult. When the gun is open that gaping doll's head recess is plain ugly. Rebarreling a doll's head gun is an expensive pain. The cross pin (hinge pin) machined from the solid is another minus, a big one in my opinion. It is unsupported by frame metal at the front, and also adds to the rebarreling and tightening difficulty. If a droplock works loose you are restricted to adding metal to the hook, you cannot change the cross pin.
I mentioned the Ferlib Euro, the Famars Zeus, and the Famars version of the droplock in the AS GOOD category, and in my opinion, prettier more functional and defintely more rapairable than the dropolock. I also happen to know that the Ferlib goes through severe high tech quality control, yet sells at a fraction of the droplock.
As for losing detachable bits, I know of two cases. The trigger group of a Rottweil Gamba, detached by an owner to show off to his friend. The other from a Perazzi, again when showing off and mislaid in someone else's gun case.
The temptation to show off those jeweled locks has risks. Everyone who comes withn eyeball range of my droplock wants to see those jeweled locks.
The single trigger on droplocks, manufacture wise, is a marvel, operation wise it is nowhere near as reliable as my Citori.
Unique, definitely. Best, well, I have misgivings.
Last edited by Shotgunlover; 09/14/12 02:13 PM.
