rickyjames
New member
does anyone one know when the o/u shotgun was first introduced? was it before, during, or after the side by side? thanks.
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o/u shotguns
- Thread starter rickyjames
- Start date
oneounceload
Moderator
SxS's have a century or so head start; actually BOSS predated JMB...
There are actually examples of O/U shotguns from the days of percussion caps and black powder. Once you introduce breechloading cartridges, it got a lot more complex due to the machine tools technology that existed, which is one reason why SXS shotguns are so much more common. JMB designed the Superposed (1927), which was one of the first breechloading OU shotguns made.
oneounceload
Moderator
From the Boss website:
http://www.bossguns.co.uk/page2.asp
http://www.bossguns.co.uk/page2.asp
In 1891 John Robertson took over the business and added to the reputation of Boss by inventing the famous Boss single trigger in 1894, the Boss ejector in 1898 and the light handsome over and under gun in 1909, all still very much in production today.
oneounceload
Moderator
Dis-remember?? I LIKE that term. My kid gets credit for electronical though... LOL
Now, from Wiki we get:
But, I still believe Boss was the first to make and market the O/U
Now, from Wiki we get:
.In 1887, Browning introduced the Model 1887 Lever Action Repeating Shotgun, which loaded a fresh cartridge from its internal magazine by the operation of the action lever. Before this time most shotguns were the 'break open' type.
This development was greatly overshadowed by two further innovations he introduced at the end of the 19th century. In 1893, Browning produced the Model 1893 Pump Action Shotgun, introducing the now familiar pump action to the market. And in 1900, he patented the Browning Auto-5, the world's first semi-automatic shotgun. The Browning Auto-5 remained in production until 1998.
But, I still believe Boss was the first to make and market the O/U
Manton,et al, made muzzle loading O/Us prior to 1800. His SxS guns were way more popular. In fact, his flintlocks set the stage for SxS design to this day.
The O/U seems to have been invented first. However, the shallower action of the SxS handled better for wingshooting.
Once breechloaders became possible, the less angle needed to load a SxS in a shooting butt(Like a goose blind for pheasants) made it most folks' choice.
Boss made the first popular O/U breechloader, if you can call a gun that cost the equivalent of a couple years wages for a working man popular.Boss,then and now, does high end "Bespoke" guns of both action styles. A new Boss will set you back the best part of $100K.
Browning's legendary Superposed was the first O/U made for Everyman. While not cheap, many US shooters found it affordable and well worth the price. It first became available in the 30s.
HTH....
The O/U seems to have been invented first. However, the shallower action of the SxS handled better for wingshooting.
Once breechloaders became possible, the less angle needed to load a SxS in a shooting butt(Like a goose blind for pheasants) made it most folks' choice.
Boss made the first popular O/U breechloader, if you can call a gun that cost the equivalent of a couple years wages for a working man popular.Boss,then and now, does high end "Bespoke" guns of both action styles. A new Boss will set you back the best part of $100K.
Browning's legendary Superposed was the first O/U made for Everyman. While not cheap, many US shooters found it affordable and well worth the price. It first became available in the 30s.
HTH....
As noted Boss and Manton made over/unders many years before Browning. Woodward also produced its first o/u in 1913. Browning did develop a design that could be produced with less handfitting than the custom English guns.
As is sometimes the case with Browning, the concepts were already well established and he improved on the designs of others.
As is sometimes the case with Browning, the concepts were already well established and he improved on the designs of others.
In Scotland, Britain and Europe, firearms manufacturing was in full progress before Columbus discovered the Americas. The word shotgun, believe it or not, is a fairly recent word in the big scheme of things. Here is a timeline of sorts that I have found interesting. Note the 1670 entry. Some of the first guns firing two shots were a revolving barrel design gun with an upper and lower barrel.
http://armscollectors.com/gunhistorydates.htm
CB
http://armscollectors.com/gunhistorydates.htm
CB