The side by side gun

The side by side gun
Paolo Tebaldi
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The breech-loading side by side gun reaches the age of 200.
First of all what we are talking about:
Side by side:
gun with two smooth or rifled barrels mounted one beside the
other horizontally. Rarely one smooth barrel and one rifled barrel.
Over and under: gun with two smooth or rifled barrels, one on the top of the other.
Billing:
over and under with a smooth upper barrel and a rifled lower barrel.
Drilling:
a three-barreled gun, typically with two identical side-by-side
smooth barrels mounted above one rifled barrel. There are also few
samples made with a lower smooth barrel (three barreled gun).
There are other configurations, rare pieces of skill that are made rather for the sake of
art than for necessity.
Let's get to the point, our purpose is to show how significant shotguns of the types
listed above are made inside, getting also an historic individuation of the ideas and of
the mechanical solutions that have transformed the insecure creation of Pauly into the
modern shotgun.
One thing to consider is that the two hundred years since the first dazzling idea of 1812
are characterized by different commitments and rates.
Until about 1860 France is going through a "pioneering" phase that's looked upon with
great suspicion from the reassuring muzzleloading' world. Since 1860, at the beginning
of the second industrial revolution, English gunsmiths impress their research such an
acceleration as to bring them to the finish line in just thirty years. After 1900, apart the
Zanotti's lumps, there are no significant news. Materials and barrels are improved,
closures, locks and ejectors are perfected, the research goes on upon the over and
under, but the side by side remains the same.
Between the two world wars highest reputation gunsmiths produce very accurate
guns. In the second half of the 20th century the shooting platform over and under gun
reaches maturity. While the desire for the semi-automatic has diminished, in the last
years a restricted number of artists manufacturers continues the realization of refined
guns.
They deserve our applause and our admiration for the will, ability and commitment for
enhancing the firearm making art.
by Paolo Tebaldi - Pag.1
The side by side
In order not to get lost, we propose a chronological summary of the key inventions
that have transformed the duckling into a swan. This is a list, probably an incomplete
one, of valid solutions, chosen because they are well-working and have been used for
a long period or even today.
It regrets having ignored (at the time) beautiful guns from the period 1860/80, they
are characterized by a great manufacturing, but made with mechanical solutions
quickly dropped into disuse from the rapid development. For the same reason the
best production of twentieth century doesn't appears here, superb side by side guns
but off the “invention” time.
1812. Pauly.
Breech-loading
hammerless side by side,
the breech rotates
upwards.
Tumblers are cocked via
two external levers.
1812. Pauly’ side by side.
1831. Robert.
Hammerless.
Tumblers are
cocked raising
the gun breech.
1831. Robert’ hammerless.
Pag.2
1832-36.Lefaucheux.
Break-action gun, pinfire
ignition cartridge.
1832-1836. Lefaucheux’ pinfire cartridge.
1858. Francois
Eugene Schneider.
1858. Francois
Eugene Schneider’ side by side.
Hammer gun,
centerfire cartridge
(primer located in
the center of the
cartridge). The
modern side by side
shotgun is born.
1858. Westley Richards.
He realizes the doll's
head extension of the
top rib.
1858. Westley Richards’ doll’s head extension.
Pag.3
1859. Henry Jones.
He patents his double
grip rotary underlever,
then largely used on
the Express side by
side guns.
1859. Henry Jones’ double grip on a H&H 8
bore.
1867. W.W. Greener.
He patents the famous
cross-bolt mechanism.
1867. Greener’ cross-bolt on a S&S.
1870 -75 Purdey.
He develops the current
double lumps with
toplever and the action
with the crossbar. He
mounts the Stanton'
locks with rebounding
hammers.
1870-75. Purdey’ double lumps on a toplever break-action gun.
Pag.4
1875. Westley Richards.
He produces the side by side
shotgun with Anson &
Deeley mechanical.
The actual A. & D. is born.
1875. Westley Richards, Anson
& Deeley mechanical.
1875. W. & C. Scott.
They create a
hammerless on which
tumblers are cocked by
the barrels' opening.
1875. W. & C. Scott’ hammerless.
1880. John Dickson.
He announces the birth
of the round body side by
side. Its appearance will
have great luck.
Pag.5
1886. Holland & Holland.
They produce the colonel
Fosbery' Paradox.
1888-90. Holland & Holland.
They develop their Royal.
It will inspire a big part of the
gunsmiths.
1890. In St. Etienne.
The wonderful Ideal
is produced.
1890. The Ideal side by side.
Pag.6
1893. Regis Darne.
His unmistakable side
by side shotgun
becomes like the
actual one.
1893. The mature Darne’ side by side.
1897. Westley Richards.
He equips his side by side
with hand-removable
locks (droplock).
1897. Westley Richards with
hand removable locks.
1906. Giacinto Zanotti.
He constructs the
three compass turns
lumps.
1906. Zanotti’ three compass turns lumps.
To conclude. From this point on, the side by side has reached maturity.
The next commitment makes it more reliable but is not able to do it different.
Pag.7