Splinter Forend Woes - 28ga DHE

[David Verhine]

I have 2, 2bbl 28ga repro DHE sets, both all numbers matching, respectively, etc and had a weird hiccup yesterday. I took one set to a dove shoot and was surprisingly embarrassed (not really my friends don't care), that it was exceedingly hard to attach the splinter forend. I guess I've been shooting the one I left assembled too much; but, it took me 5 minutes to get the forend on and I had to crack the bbls a bit and then work it all back into place.

What gives?

A 20ga DHE repro I have does not have this problem, nor does the 16ga original?

It's like the forend lock base doesn't want to clear the forend lock tumbler, if I have that correct?

[Bill Murphy]

I assume one or both of the ejector hammers were in the fired position, for whatever reason.

[David Noble]

I’m not sure from your description whether you have a forend for each set of barrels or if you have just one forend for both but I have previously owned a two barrel set DHE 28 repro that had a similar problem. The forend fit fine on one set but not on the other. It was a tight fit to get it pushed down against the barrels and I had to manually push the lever down. It wouldn’t just snap on. Worst of all it would come off in my hand while shooting. As I recall it needed some fitting on both the front and back of the forend lug of that set of barrels.

[Dean Romig]

I’m not sure from your description whether you have a forend for each set of barrels or if you have just one forend for both but I have previously owned a two barrel set DHE 28 repro that had a similar problem. The forend fit fine on one set but not on the other. It was a tight fit to get it pushed down against the barrels and I had to manually push the lever down. It wouldn’t just snap on. Worst of all it would come off in my hand while shooting. As I recall it needed some fitting on both the front and back of the forend lug of that set of barrels.


I had the exact same problem. I had my BIL who is a gov’t certified aircraft welder TIG some material to the front of the tip of the lug and I dressed it and the rear of the lug with a fine diamond file to a perfect fit.





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[David Verhine]

I’m not sure from your description whether you have a forend for each set of barrels or if you have just one forend for both but I have previously owned a two barrel set DHE 28 repro that had a similar problem. The forend fit fine on one set but not on the other. It was a tight fit to get it pushed down against the barrels and I had to manually push the lever down. It wouldn’t just snap on. Worst of all it would come off in my hand while shooting. As I recall it needed some fitting on both the front and back of the forend lug of that set of barrels.

I have two complete, two barrel (one serialized forend per gun) sets. Guess I need to do some swapping around to pin point the problem, I just haven't had time to do it yet.

[Bill Murphy]

And I thought I was the 28 gauge Repro fanatic. Wow, two forends for each set. David, we would love to see pictures of your Repros.

[Brian Dudley]

Usually repro 2bbl sets do not have two forends. Unless an additional forend was ordered for the gun. But, anything is possible.

My advice is to just squeeze the forend harder, in the right spot. And that is what I always tell people and it always works. They are supposed to fit tight.

[Dean Romig]

When you push harder and the latch closes flush but the forend pops off while shooting it is not a 'just push harder" situation.





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[Brian Dudley]

When you push harder and the latch closes flush but the forend pops off while shooting it is not a 'just push harder" situation.





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The OP said nothing about a forend coming off and that was what I was addressing.

[edgarspencer]

Not trying to take potential work away from Brian, but I would advise not pushing too hard, with your hand forward of the latch. I've seen lots of snapped fore ends. Keep the pressure behind the latch. If it is very hard, I just open the barrel a bit and it locks right up.

[Brian Dudley]

Thus why I was sure to say to push “in the right spot”.

In at least half a dozen occasions I have had people bring a gun to me at a shoot and ask me to install the forend because they think there is something wrong and they cannot get it on and want me to see. I then install the forend and hand them back the gun. They always ask me to then please show them “what I did” to get it on. As if I performed some feat of illusion. No smoke and mirrors, just squeezing in the right spot.

[David Verhine]

Thanks for all the replies gents. Cracking the bbls slightly allows it all to go together, I just worry about the stresses applied during shooting. I'll do some more investigating this weekend.

Apparently I'm confusing, so maybe my wife is correct. I don't have 4 forends, just 2 (the one each cased set came with).