Small Bore,
The "hand made" part is probably less true than we want to believe. Greener writing in 1910 described and approved of the the use of machine tools in gunmaking and of carborundum infused lead plates for polishing of small parts. It is only natural that makers would use the most economical way to get to the same result. Personally I always had a hard time believing that the boxlock recesses that house springs and tumblers, or the square bolt recesses were cut by hand. In many guns of the "golden era" I examine there were clear machining marks left in the metal.
Getting to the irreducible qualities of best guns, I would bet on the feel, both in the sense of overall balance and dynamics, as well as the tactile sense in manipulation as being the essential qualities of a "best". For these, yes, you need human touch and judgement, but these can be applied when the machine work has been done.
For the rest of the work I recall Sandro Lucchini's words: "when I want a square corner I go to the milling machine, not the human hand".
Last edited by Shotgunlover; 06/24/13 08:47 AM.
