doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com New Westley droplock

Mike, of course, I�ll defer to your experience. But I do love the sight and feel of a good sidelock whereas a boxlock always looks clunky and clumsy, but only when compared to a sidelock.

The bolt-action rifle has replaced the double for most hunting but you never know when you have to wade through that tall, thick grass looking for that wounded animal.

'A boxlock' and 'A sidelock' suggests that each is one type and quality of gun with definable and immediately differing 'sight and feel'. They are not.

Handle enough of both and you realise there are also 'clunky, clumsy' and indeed, crude and badly made, sidelocks and beautifully balanced and perfectly finished boxlocks.

There is a big difference between a cheap three pin coil spring back action sidelock made at low cost and a Westley Richards Model Grande de Luxe boxlock, which cost twice what their best sidelock did. Lots of grey areas in between!

Come on Dig, we are speaking English guns here, who have a history hunting the most dangerous game in the world that other gunmakers can only dream about. With that being said, you know as well as I that the epitome of the gunmaking world is an English built sidelock.

buzz - It's rare that I contest any poster's remarks but when the boxlock is a Westley Richards, droplock or not, then you've got excellence that no sidelock can better. IMHO of course.

Oddly enough there is a matched pair of 20b Westley Richards bar action sidelocks for sale right now for about $35.9k on Guns International. Beautiful guns but unfortunately appear 'out of proof'. I would imagine a matched pair of WR droplocks would be at least that much, probably more, so it appears the market agrees with you. Personally however, I would still prefer a well made bar action sidelock with intercepting safety sears over almost any boxlock, at least with shotguns. ;-)

In the end, it doesn't seem to matter much. I mostly shoot old Blackpowder shotguns these days!

And Marc are these black powder muzzleloaders boxlocks?
No, they are not. The sidelock has 'been there' and 'done that' long before that johnny-come-lately boxlock contraption showed up!!

The Anson and Deeley boxlock was invented in 1875. That was a long time ago and I doubt if the Hammerless bar action lock with tumblers, as opposed to hammers, is all that terribly much older.

And the timeline on the "droplock".