Paul Curtis comment on cross bolting 1934Archived Message
Posted by USMC Armorer on September 23, 2008, 7:31 am
In his fine book "Guns and Gunning" Capt. Curtis-pages 164-65 said: "The American cross-bolt binds the action to the frame more tightly and with less necessary adjustment than any other--Would appreciate Dr. Drew and other's knowlegable in this area to compare the bolting on the Smiths and both the Fox and the last series Ithacas-Curtis adds this:" No gunequipped with it is easy to open or close, when steel is grinding against steel with the friction created by a powerful spring, the gun will remain tight, just as a closely fitted door will, and in the samee way is not easy to open." My 101 year old No. 2 Grade 12 bore opens and closes easily enough, and with the forearm removed, no rattle or wiggle at all- possibly due to the barrel lug being held in position in the frame opening- A friend has Fox grade B with Krupp barrels that a relative bought new in 1915-it shows the years of shooting, but like my Smith, locks closed like a bank vault door-