Hi
what is a flat-back sidelock?
Thank you

An action not shocked to the fences. Hopefully someone will post a picture.

Here you go. A flat back is a gun not stocked to the fences as so:



As opposed to a gun stocked up to the fences.



Hope that clarifies. The first gun is a Charles Lancaster 'Crown' model (actually made by W.C. Scott in this case) and the second is a Holland & Holland 'Paradox'. Just put in to illustrate what I am trying to convey Lagopus.....

Oops! The Holland's a flat back so here is a Non-Flatback this time; a Boxall & Edminson. Sorry. Lagopus.....

Would it be appropriate to say that a flat back does not have "horns" and the non-flatpack has "horns"?

jlb

I think they both have horns, but stocked to the fence guns have longer antlers that go all the way to the fences
franc

OK, for those of us that don't have the terminology down pat, how about a bit more help. The difference I see in the photos is that there isn't as much length in the receiver right behind the bolsters [ or fences ]. I had never heard of a flat-back sidelock before, or the term antlers used in gun terms. There use to be a place where all the terms were, but I couldn't find it. Thanks for any help. Paul

See if this helps Paul.
http://www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm#B

The recent lagopus post shows "Stocked to the Fences". There are many other variations of this feature, but the lagopus post shows what it really is.

As for Antlers...I was joking with Horns.It's a a tough room,lol
Stocked To The Fences means the horns go right up to the arse end of the fence balls.
If, behind said arse of the fence balls, there is a 1/4" or so of metal heading back to the stock on both sides...its not stocked to the fences.
Thats how I see it , though Flat Back makes me think of Mandolins...but then I'm a fiddle player.
cheers
franc

Does anyone have an opinion about the quality inference of guns stocked to the fences or not stocked to the fences?

Sort of a style type thing like chopper lumps, etc. Most folks say stocked to the fences is better, depending if you are a buyer or seller, but let's not forget Boss best guns were not stocked to the fences until sometime after 1900. Same goes for Stephen Grant bests.

Thanks.

When I think of mandolins, I think of the Gibson Lloyd L-something series, came out in the 1920's- now as for flat-top guitars- I'll like both my 1964 Martin HD-35 with the 3 pc. back, and profiled neck- and my later Taylor with the cut-away and a slightly longer neck with more frets. My mandolin playing pal also is a fair guitar flat picker, he has a D42 Martin- if I'm real polite in our Bluegrass gigs (banjo, dobro and upright bass also make up our 5 man band of pickers) he'll let me play it- indoors--

It would be difficult to assess the difference in the strength of the action forms without knowing the structure under the locks.

or if that is even a matter of consequence.

have another day
Dr.WtS

My lowly Wm Cashmore hammer gun is stocked to the fences.
O.M

Foxy..it was Lloyd Loar.
I've been playing the fiddle for 45 years.Have a nice old Gibson carved back n front A basic model mando, teardrop shape, oval hole from around 1913.
Also a 2nd quality Gibson Kalamazoo A style, flat back n front,round hole from around 1930.I play gigs around here, mostly Irish/English folk stuff
Cool man, didn't know you were a picker...more power to the musios, eh?
Happy thanks giving mate,,do you have any links to your 5 man band...love to hear it.
cheers
Franc
Sorry for getting off top