Action - The receiver of a gun containing the firing mechanism. The serially-numbered, legal soul of a firearm. Major types are: Boxlock, Sidelock, Blitz & Bolt Action.
A color-casehardened Anson & Deeley Boxlock
Boxlock - A type of action (receiver) for a break-open gun where the lockwork is contained within a box-shaped housing. A boxlock is superior to a sidelock because, although more metal needs to be removed from the action body, less wood needs to be removed from the head of the stock---and wood is generally more vulnerable than metal. The Anson & Deeley boxlock, patented in 1875, the simplest, most reliable and most successful action design, is identified by two pins spanning the width of the action, one at the bottom rear and one slightly forward and higher, upon which the sears and hammers, respectively, rotate.
Sidelock - A type of action on a break-open gun where the lockwork (hammer, sear, mainspring etc) is mounted to the back side (inside) of a plate (or pair of plates for a double gun). A sidelock is superior to a boxlock because: 1. Less steel needs be removed from the bar of the action; the action is therefore stronger. 2. The lock plates provide a larger canvas for the engraver's art. 3. Sidelocks have generally been considered a more aesthetically pleasing form. 4. They are often made with secondary, or intercepting, safety sears. 5. Trigger pulls theoretically may be adjusted more precisely. 6. Because of all the above, most makers building a range of guns have usually reserved the sidelock action for their better grades of guns; this last being the most relevant reason why sidelocks are generally considered superior to boxlocks. In this photo the left lockplate is in place; right lockplate is removed to the show internal mechanism.
A Hand-Detachable, Back-Action Sidelock with right-hand lockplate removed to show internal mechanism. This layout requires less steel to be removed from the bar of the action than does a Bar Action. It is consequently stronger---suitable for use in double rifles.
A Bar-Action sidelock removed from gun. Note that the mainspring runs forward into the bar of the action. This layout allows a faster lock time than does a Back Action.
Sideplates - Decorative steel plates mounted to the sides of a boxlock break-open gun, inletted into the receiver and into the wood just behind it, to make the gun resemble a sidelock in appearance and to provide a greater area for engraving. Sideplated guns, usually, can be recognized by the lack of action pins visible in the sideplates (although some sideplated guns are built with fake pins).
Sidelock actions, usually, can be recognized by the action pins visible on the exterior of the lockplates. A very few sidelock actions, however, are constructed in a demonstration of sublime gunmaking to show no pins through the lockplates. The considerable amount of extra work required is sometimes undertaken on very fine guns to allow a completely un-interrupted canvas for the engraver's art.
Blitz Action
Blitz action; trigger plate detached from receiver.
Blitz Action - A design where the moving parts of a break-open gun's action are mounted to the trigger plate. Similar in construction to a Dickson Round Action. Often seen on German and Austrian guns. Identified externally, on the underside of the receiver, by a broader-than-usual trigger plate
Bolt Action
An action type, most frequently used on rifles, perfected by Peter Paul Mauser in 1898, whereby a cylindrical shaft, controlled by an attached lever, manually feeds a cartridge into the chamber, turns down engaging locking lugs in recesses in the front receiver ring, allows firing by the fall of an internal spring-loaded pin, opening, extraction, re-cocking and ejection with the same lever in preparation for the next shot.
AE or Automatic Ejectors - fittings inset into the breech end of barrels of a break-open gun that kick out fired shells, while only raising unfired shells enough to be removed by hand.
Ejectors and Extractors
Barrels with Extractors Barrels with EjectorsEjectors - Fittings inset into the breech end of a pair of barrels of a break-open gun that kick out fired shells, while only raising unfired shells enough to be removed by hand. Recognizable at a glance on the breech end of a double gun because the fitting is split in two---one ejector for each barrel.
Extractors - A fitting inset into the breech end of a pair of barrels of a break-open gun. When the gun is opened the extractor lifts the cartridges so they may be removed by hand. Recognizable at a glance on the breech end of a double gun because the fitting is solid---one extractor taking care of both barrels together.
Southgate Ejector mechanism fitted to shotgun forend.
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