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I am unfamiliar with term adequate barrel check. Is that something that a gunsmith would do?

I am unfamiliar with term adequate barrel check. Is that something that a gunsmith would do?

Barrel check is a design feature which retards the barrels from opening to full gape. The purpose is to reduce wear on the joint...Geo

Sometimes it is aggravating because it makes reloading more difficult.

Shooting Sportsman magazine has an article this past month on hunting with hammer guns. As well as Diggory Hadock's book on English hammer guns

On the Pieper I mentioned the barrels opened until the bottom of the forearm knuckle hit the bottom of the frame. This obviously puts forward pressure on the forearm lug. On hammerless guns the cocking mechanism often serves as the check though some have a separate check as well. Some of these may not be as accurately fitted as desired. Bottom line is on any break open gun "Gently" fully open the gun. Make certain there is clearance between the forearm knuckle & the bottom of the frame. If there is not then it needs adjusting if possible. If there is nothing to adjust as on my Pieper it has to be handled very carefully. Do not open it hard but as gently as possible when loading. Never Ever carry it around open with the weight of the barrel putting forward pressure on the forearm lug. This can even be in your gun-room at home, does not ave to be out in the field, of course the rougher the terrain the more pressure is apt to be applied.

There's nothing wrong with Pieper guns. He was well known for his fine Damascus barrels. At a Worlds Fair he submitted a set of Damascus barrels with his name in them over and over down the length of the barrels. It won first place.

2-Pieper,

Thanks for the information, I checked the spacing between the forearm and the frame when action is open. In my case there is space about two sheets of paper thick. I will not carry open in any case.

Mike thanks for Shooting Sportsman's article reference. I will check out.

Paul, I am impressed with this Pieper, engraving nice, bores are mirror like new finish, wood is excellent as is wood to metal fit.

I had seen so many negative comments that did not fit with my experience.

I am not that much up on Piepers but they made many grades of guns from some very inexpensive ones to some High grade ones. The cheaper ones likely hurt their image which is unfortunate, they made some very nice guns.
Pieper incidentally was the originator of the "Mono-Block" although he simply called it a steel breech piece. I am not certain but highly suspect Beretta coined the name mono-block.