GG, to answer your question, IMO, sideplate actions have no practical reason for being other than a place for engraving. You might think from my statement that I don't like sideplate guns, nothing could be further from the truth. I own (custodian in this life) a Francotte Eagle grade that is my favorite shotgun and as my bestus bud calls it "pick of the litter".

I also agree with Karl, sidelocks are best left to a person with experience to remove them.

Doug


Doug Mann