I’ve long known of a “schnabel” forend in reference to the shape of the wood but never saw or heard the word schnabel in reference to the forend tip. Would you kindly define ‘schnabel’ in this context?

It is a German word meaning ‘beak’ or ‘mouth’.







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Well, i am not sure if I am referring to the shape of the forward end of the tip metal in the correct term, but you know what I am speaking of Dean. At least I hope.

I think I do know now. I don’t know what to call it though... but I might call it bulldozed and sculpted, or just sculpted.





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Dean; thank you for asking the question. I too was stumped by schnable. Photos would make this distinction easier to comprehend.

Thanks,

JDG

I’m not sure it ever occurred to me to call it that, but it makes sense to me.:cuss:

Man, this one could go downhill faster than a redneck standing on ice right before saying "hold my beer and watch this", but for posterity will try and keep it above the gutter.

Btw I don't know if any one should post pictures of their stumped schnabel on the internet as it takes up precious bandwidth. Also if your "schnavel" is longer than your "schnabel" you need to lay of the pie, and definitely no one wants to see that. :rotf:

I have a couple of Dehaan shotguns that have a schnabel on the fore-end or fore-arm, which ever is correct. I think some higher grade O/U's employ schnabels with their guns.

Schnabel forends have been around for a long time. Even some American makers of SxS shotguns employed the design, for whatever reason, on a couple of trap or skeet models.
I don’t know how the German word for ‘beak’ or ‘mouth’ devolved to describing the flaring of the forward end of the forend wood...






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What some are describing as a schnabel on the forend tip, I've long referred to them as a beaded forend tip -- akin to the beads around the breech balls of Grade 5 and higher hammerless Parkers.

Here's one for true schnabel lovers. On a 12-bore by Robert Jones of Liverpool.

Interesting that the schnabel shaping is incorporated in the horn tip only.

John, do you know if it serves any purpose other than aesthetics only.



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