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Forums10
Topics39,554
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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 641 Likes: 92
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 641 Likes: 92 |
Thanks, Brent. It has been a few years since I have had a 'firearms accident', so I am looking forward to this one.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,134 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,134 Likes: 19 |
Why would there be a need for a false dolls head? Replacement barrels or maybe it was a left over action?
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,971 Likes: 103
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,971 Likes: 103 |
I cant picture Joseph Lang doing anything deceptive, such as a false dollshead. How about thishe wanted something in that area to break up the monotony of the top of the breech. So he decided on a raised oval decoration. Looks rather nice doesnt it. I doubt it ever crossed his mind someone would confuse it with a dollshead. In fact, did the dolls head even exist when this early gun was made, circa 1869-1870? Oh, I just remembered Westley Richards utilized one earlier than this.
Last edited by Joe Wood; 12/18/19 10:53 PM.
John McCain is my war hero.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 789 Likes: 45
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 789 Likes: 45 |
Although it is tempting, with our view back over the centuries, to assume this is faux Doll's Head, and that image may well have been in the action fillers mind as he shaped the action, I think it is little more than a raised 'shield' to lead ones eye onto the raised, file cut rib of a tool for harvesting food.
I am in no way denigrating the piece but I think we have to guard against over romanticising what was in effect a very nicely finished 'tool'.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,574 Likes: 167
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,574 Likes: 167 |
Agree with Toby. Really easy to tell if a doll's head is "false". All you need to do is open the gun. A doll's head is attached to the barrel, not the standing breech. What you have there is just decoration.
Kinda like "false sideplates" . . . but with a difference. False sideplates really ARE sideplates. It's just that the working parts aren't attached to them, as they are in a sidelock.
I've always liked the Cogswell & Harrison term for false sideplates: "Ornamental strengthening plates."
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