Indians For Guns

Hi folks,

Is any one aware of any Indian manufacturer who makes shotguns based on the sidelock action (not sidelplates) ? Most of the Indians guns I have seen are boxlocks so just wondering...Nothing fancy just a plain honest sidelock like this BRNO which handles as well as my Beretta costing much more....









Herb

Hi Herb,

Well as of today no one makes side lock DBBL guns.

About 16-17 years (1990)back we did try getting DBBL side lock guns made for the export. The brand was FR...... The export did not take place as there were cost over runs and time over runs too. By the time the basic actions got ready we were already a year behind schedule.

The guns were then launched in the market.The guns were not at all received well in the market. No one was ready for 26" Barrels then ...but more than that I think it would have easier to market then if IFG was in existence then. No one seem to know much about the sidelock, the customer profile of the market was different then, and may be the idea to introduce sidelocks was much before its time . No one wanted to use 26" guns then though today every one wants a smaller barrel.Had the guns been made today I feel they would have sold off immediately.The guns price then was about Rs.14000/-

AC

Thanks for information art_collector, do you have access to a picture of this gun by any chance, if yes please do post a picture.

Unfortunate that the Indian attempt at making a quality sidelock was not a success as even today most of the best guns manufactured by firms like H&H, J Purdey, Holloway Naughton, William Evans, Perugini-Visini and even Aya & Famars are sidelocks.

Herb

Well I dont have any photos of those guns....there were no digital cameras nor mobile phones then. I should be having the drawings that were approved for the final guns and may be details of the fine engravings to be done on the side locks. I know fine guns have been always side locks . I too have a few English DBBL Guns & DB Rifles with sidelocks in my collection.

Art collector, I would like to know more about who you are and which factory tried manufacture of sidelocks in India, send me a PM or e mail.

I had also used some Foxwood, privately manufactured cartridges earlier made in Kanpur by Badr Bhai's ( of Seyana , Aligarh ) factory.

While in Ghazipur in 1991 the local shooters there had given me some locally manufactured cartridges called Rotex I guess.

What is happening to the private manufacture of cartridges / guns these days.

Yes A_C, as you mentioned fine guns have always been sidelocks, not sure if sidelocks providing more area for the engravers art is the only reason for this? or does the sidelock have some inherent design advantages like strength & dependability over the boxlock? I am sure the stock inleting will be more complicated in a sidelock as I know that initial batch of some old American sidelocks (not sure whether LC Smith or Lefever) were notorious for splitting stocks.

When you get time do post some pictures of the guns in your collection.