I measured on one gun which I have with double underbolts. From the center of the hinge pin to the front bolt notch (rear) is approximately 7/8" (.875") & to the rear notch 2". Thus the rear bolt has about a 230% leverage advantage over the front bolt. Also as the barrels open for every 0.001" the rear notch lifts the front one only lifts 0.0004".
To quote Julian S Hatcher there are many things which sound good "IF", you say them really fast. Would someone kindly type very slow & tell me just what advantage that front bolt gives in keeping the barrels closed.
The biggest advantage I can see to the front bolt on this gun, as well as others I have or have had in the past, is it serves to cam the bolt back for closing so the top lever does not need a Latch Over" but always returns to center. I like that feature, but it doesn't add to the strength of the gun.
The gun I measured is incidentally my J P Clabrough sidelock I have mentioned numerous times in the past & is still tight & on the face even though the bolts have absolutely no builtin wear compensation. It does have an unbolted Doll's Head in addition to the underbolts.
As they say, Life is too short to shoot a gun which you truly do not like. For "ME" this includes the A&D Boxlock. I will take my Lefevers or this Clabrough over any of the Cheaper A&D guns available.
