While all the Fulton guns were seemingly "flat-bottomed" actions the Syracuse guns were definitely not, with big "bolsters" filed into the base of each action and with matching shapes incorporated into the heads of the best "English" walnut stocks that were used almost exclusively then.
I'm curious about the terminology Lloyd used here to describe the detail filed into the bottom of the frame of his Syracuse gun. He referred to it as "bolsters", and put it in quotation marks as if he is not 100% certain about it. I've often wondered if there is a generally accepted term for that detail, as it is often also seen on higher grade Syracuse Lefevers, and other guns. When I see this detail on Lefevers, it seems that it isn't a case of extra metal that was added to improve strength, but rather metal was removed leaving that attractive little detail on the bottom of the frame. So is there some other term to describe that attractive bit of frame sculpting??? And is it done to add strength, or to reduce weight, or just because the gun maker felt it was aesthetically pleasing?
When I think of "bolsters" on a double gun, I typically think of the extra metal that is more often seen at the 90 degree juncture of the frame and standing breech on double rifles. Those are said to strengthen the frame in that critical area to help accommodate the higher breech pressures produced by rifles. Insufficient strength in that area is often cited when shotgun actions are considered for conversion into double rifles.
