doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com BOXLOCK VS SIDELOCK

"You pays your money and takes your choice"
Mike

The Scott & Baker patent #761 of 1878 is the hammerless sidelock that I would consider to be the one that started it all in regards to hammerless sidelock Sporting guns.

A sidelock does not have to be a "BEST" to still be a reliable gun. I do not know what its BV or OQ is, but it is a bottom of the line "Field" grade J P Clabrough & Bro's which one essentially identical to it, lists for $50.00 in an 1895-96 Clabrough & Golcher & Co catalog. It has Damascus barrels. It has pit free barrels & is in sound mechanical condition, though little remaining finish.

In the same catalog, the lowest priced Boxlock Greener listed was $95.00 with the lowest priced w&C Scott sidelock @ $150.00. On the American scene, the Lefever G grade sold for $45.0 with the Baker grade B @ $50.00.

This Clabrough is a well-made gun, even though not an expensive one & is certainly better finished & engraved than either of the American guns listed at about the same price. It is however over 120 years old & remains tight & on the face even though it has no built-in wear compensation. It is double under bolted with a non-bolted Doll's Head rib extension. Both bolts, as well as their seats, are cut parallel to the bore axis with the to lever always stopping at center upon closing.

I have shot a good number of quail, woodcock & cottontails with it. I shoot it better than any gun I have ever owned, including my beloved Lefevers. I have always shot it with 1 oz of shot @around 1150 FPS @ about 8k PSI.

My only exception to ALWAYS preferring a sidelock is the ""Semi-Sidelock" Lefever.

I do like my side locks, beautiful works of functional art. But have to admit, I have taken more upland game birds with a AYA 25 BL. Would pick the BL . Now all bets are off if you�re comparing a drop lock!

I think there is some hair splitting about the date of origin of boxlocks and sidelocks.
The Murcott was a pretty nice sidelock snap underlever patented in 1871. One of our club members has one.

I prefer sidelock shotguns, but I like boxlock guns too. I do think the top tang safeties are often times more ergonomically placed on sidelocks as compared to boxlocks, but that is not always the case, at least that�s what I�ve noticed re English. It seems like sidelock safeties are closer to the breech than some of the boxlock English SxS guns I�ve handled. Round bodies, like the Dickson are real sweet and aren�t really classified as boxlock or sidelock guns since they are trigger plate guns.

Buzz,
I'm glad that you mentioned round actions. Regarding sidelocks, I much prefer the feel of a round action as opposed to a conventionally edged action. I find that carrying a boxlock with a rounded edge bottom more comfotable on long days afield. I have two conventionally shaped sidelocks, but always reach for the boxlock when hunting.
Perhaps in my next life I can carry a Dickson!
Karl

Auction results, which my valuations are based on, say hammer guns value just about like boxlocks ejectors. There aren't enough hammer ejector guns out and about to differentiate ejectors from non-ejectors. BV of hammergun makers is the same as for SL and BL. CC is also judged as for SL an BL guns. OQ is judged from one to five for SLE's, two to six for SLNE's and from five to nine for BL. That is, a best work BLE will be OQ5 and border engraved BLE will be OQ7. BLNE's will go generally from OQ7 to OQ9 (farmer's tool). Westley Richards sorta split the difference between SLE and BLE for OQ.

DDA

Saskbooknut,

The Murcott was a lever cocker, and hence not fast enough for driven shooting. The boxlock brought along barrel cocking, increasing the speed of loading. Speed was important in driven game shooting so guys like Lord Ripon could manage 28 pheasants per minute!

Arguably a lever cocker is more suitable for modern walked up hunting, which probably explains the popularity of lever cockers such as the Ideal and the Darne in France.

I am never going to be a driven game shooter. I do love walking up Sharptails and Huns.
The few shots that I fired the Murcott showed it to be a finely made practical gun. It gained my respect.