doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Drop locks

I take it Westley Richards is the only bespoken Gun builder who makes a drop lock. Or are there others who make a drop lock?
Kinda of a unique design. Anyone on the forum have one and what are their likes dislikes?
I don�t think I have seen any article�s of anyone using a WR drop lock upload hunting,
Other than big game hunting in Africa with there WR double rifles.

A few Italian makers made drop locks in the past. The WR drop lock (detachable lock) prices are now fairly high and are nicely made. There is a whole thread and other threads WR Drop Lock discussing them. They were and are WR's signature gun. However, WR made various grades of these guns.

Ken

I have seen one example of a single Japanese made drop lock.

I have 2 12 gauge drop locks and hunt with them regularly. One is a leather cased 2 barrel set deluxe and the other has the older style engraving reminiscent of the percussion era. The second gun was rebarrelled in the 50�s/60�s by Ian Crudgington and is medicine on wild roosters. It even spent the night alone in the grass where I found it the next morning when it didn�t show up in its gun case...

The Crudgington barreled gun is probably the best upland gun I own. 28� barrels, .007 / .027 & 6# 9oz.

She had some frost on her, but otherwise no worse for wear. Really glad we were hunting private land...

Perazzi guns are droplocks.

SRH

I have seen a couple of German droplocks that were similar to a Westley Richards. Also saw a Cashmore droplock that was a somewhat different mechanical design.

I�ve dropped some things in grass. Sunglasses, baseball hats, a match safe.

But I�ve never dropped a shotgun in the grass, and, left it there overnight. I�ve left a gun in a duck boat overnight, but, I knew where it was. It was not a double gun, but, a really lowly pump 12 gauge.

This is a story that almost has to involve a woman.

Glad you found it.

Best,
Ted

Ted,

Yes, there was a female involved. My Shorthair, Jazz, and a couple other dogs. We got to the end of the hunt and a couple of us were waiting with dogs while trucks were retrieved and in the hurry-up of loading dogs and such it just got left. Certainly top 5 dumbest things I've done and "verify you have your gun" is now on my checklist before driving away.

I figured I'd better tell the story before one of the members here told it for me...

A few Makers retailed WR droplocks under their own name, I came across one at the Southern S/S a few years back. The owner had no idea what it was, only the release button on the base plate gave it away. It was a quite modestly finished gun in fairly rough condition, he was amazed when I demonstrated what he had!

At least you didn't leave it on the trunk of your car and drive away with it there.

SRH

Back on track, isn't CSMC making one? Christian Hunter, or some such?

I also saw a 20ga Drop Lock 15+ years ago marked RG Owen, but it was likely sourced from Westley Richards, given his connections "back home"

The Christian Hunter is a fixed lock.

Ken

Great story. Thanks for sharing that. We've all done dumb stuff; many of us won't admit to it. Still chuckling. Gil

I believe I read in one of the shooting magazines that Piotti was now making a drop lock.

That would have been a bit nerve racking! I lost a Remington 870 Express whilst pheasant hunting in SD....doesn't quite rise to the same level of angst, as leaving a WR droplock in the field.

Nice looking gun Piotti DL.

Ken

I think I'm in love...