Stan, I'm not saying that either of the guns of the OP are indeed pigeon guns.....just saying they (subguages) existed....High stock dimensions on Boxbird guns in Europe were/are much less common, than those seen stateside for Barnaby boxes.
MANY vintage pigeon guns in use in Europe have a myriad of leather, cork, wood dutchmen, splices and/or a combination of these are added to achieve a higher sight picture on M&F barreled guns, some of the most famous still bearing sling swivels.
As to the absence of a safety, I have observed that it more frequently appears on American pigeon guns than English or Italian best designed for the ring. Various means were of course employed to deactivate or pin/block the manual safeties on these guns just as we see on competition guns here.
The SxS has all but disappeared from the rings in Europe, Fewer than 10-12 were in use in any of the last 10 trips to Spain, Portugal or Mexico (We saw 3 at this years World Championship)over the past 3 years at various World and European championships and other World Cup events.
Quite a difference from my first trip to Italy in 1979 when they were still @ 30% of the guns in use.
