Ted;
No problem there at all, just didn't follow your meaning at first. I am, definitely an "Elder". Thanks for the vote of confidence. I realize we don't always 100% agree, but hey everyone is privileged to their own opinion. I still prefer a reasonably good sidelock to any boxlock I am aware of. Although they are a sort of Hybrid, I put my Lefevers in the sidelock category of desirableness.
I do like everything about a Darne except the placement of the safety, though I could learn to live with that & would take one above an A&D Boxlock.
I have never owned one so can't attest to their actual usefulness but to me the sculpting of the bar & curved back line of the "New Lefever" (D M Lefever cross bolt gun) gave it so much more of a pleasing appearance than the typical square frame, flat back A&D. The A&D action has proven reliable & stood the test of time, but to me they just leave too much to be desired cosmetically so are just not my Cup of Tea. On the other hand my Lefevers are all more than 100 years old so I believe they have also stood the test of time. Even one I gave $25.00 for as a parts gun with a crack in one barrel & a busted stock still has a tight & sound action. It appears to have been Rode very hard & put away Extremely Wet as the saying goes.
I do have a Birmingham made pre 1900 J P Clabrough with back action sidelocks on plates which look like bar actions that I shoot extremely well. I have replaced one part on it since I acquired it some 30 years ago, a stirrup in one of the locks, I made it so no cost involved though I did finish one days hunt using it as a single.On that particular day I had gone rabbit hunting with my dad, my son & one of dad's brothers plus a pack of beagles. To the beast of my recollection I killed my limit of 5 rabbits plus one woodcock we flushed with a total of 8 shots, above average for me, but I always shot that gun extremely well.
