Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Dudley
Also, the root cause of a lot of damage can be forces other than recoil. If a gun is banged around or dropped an internal crack can start which is then worked on more by recoil. I feel that this is what causes split heads on parkers and foxes. And LC Smith featherweights have so little wood in their heads that they can crack with even the slightest forces applied in the wrong direction.
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Back in the 50s and 60s, old doubles were worth little, but LC Smiths couldn't be given away due to cracking behind the lock plate. Many of the ones listed today still have them.
I own a lot of English guns and they too have stocks which you must be careful with. Most 12 ga English box lock game guns weigh 6 to 6-1/2 pounds, about the same as an American small bore. The small bores are less. They were built to a different concept and also require much more care in handling. I was waiting at Fieldsports table at a gun show once with the intention of buying a 20 ga Hollis. I had looked at it previously earlier in the day and come back. Someone else was examining the gun and while I waited, they for some reason set it butt down on the floor too hard and the stock snapped completely though behind the tang.