doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Is the term "watertable" incorrect?

Neither Water table nor Action flats would have been terms seen on muzzle loaders. This terms would not have come into use until Breech loaders.

As an English Language teacher specialising in English as a Foreign Language for the first 20 years of my career, the question of Standard English often cropped up. There are number of standardised versions of English, each with their own particular vocabularies and grammar structures. Standard British English and Standard American English differ in both vocabulary and grammar.

If asked this question by one of my students, my answer would be that the topic being discussed is one specific to a certain interest group or profession and therefore the terminology used within that closed group falls under the register of that limited speech community.

It appears that the term 'water table' is commonly used by American members of the community in question. It is not used in British English. The term 'Action Flats' is used instead.

The term 'gas' in British English means natural gas, in American English it means (in British English) petrol, which is a liquid, but the term as used in American English is a contraction of 'gasoline'.

The short answer is that if discussing guns in America, with Americans the 'water table' term is going to be used commonly. If in England, it will not be heard. There is no 'right or 'wrong' in this case, simply that the different words emanate from different places, where they have gained common currency.

Great post, Dig. I can now go about "monoblocking" barrels.

Sure you can. Just be sure to build or use a block of "ONE" piece of steel for each set of bbls & MonoBlock as many as you like.
Unlike Watertable there is no precedence for "MIS"using the term MonoBlock for a cut off Brazed Up Breech. The one's who have done this work have habitually called it sleeving.

I haven't read the entire thread, but I did discuss this with David Trevalian long ago. His preference was "table" and felt "water table" was put upon us by some gun writer (maybe in the 1920's) who simply did not know any better. Other writers (who didn't know any better) copied it and it is in common usage today.

The term "water table" is common in shipbuilding and the aircraft industry. It is an imaginary line used as a reference point from which other items or lines are measured.

I think earlier in the thread there is a post by Raimey that showed usage of the term in gun manufacturing in the 1890s.

Now, why you chaps seem often to refer to a 'receiver' when you mean 'action', I'm still a bit puzzled!

What do you mean, "chaps"? Here that is what you wear on your legs when hunting or horseback riding to keep out the thorns.

Does not the "action", as you refer to it, receive the barrels when the gun is assembled? Thus, ......receiver.

SRH

I would only use the "receiver" term with a bolt action (notice the "action" term?) as it it a component of that type of action.

It's been my experience that for the most part, shotguns and rifles are different enough to have specific terminology.

But I guess the platxer engaging the gorpoel works too if you want it.

have a day

Dr.WtS