Given equal quality of workmanship, I prefer the falling block design. Even given a superbly made breaktop action and a well made falling block I would take the falling block. The #1 is a very well made and designed falling block, a better fit and finish may increase the value as would better wood but design and execution is flawless........and superior to any break top on the market. JMHO.
suggestions....
- Thread starter srryan
- Start date
Given equal quality of workmanship, I prefer the falling block design. Even given a superbly made breaktop action and a well made falling block I would take the falling block. The #1 is a very well made and designed falling block, a better fit and finish may increase the value as would better wood but design and execution is flawless........and superior to any break top on the market. JMHO.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Well there are falling blocks made by Dakota and Ralph Martini, if the #1 isn't expensive enough to suit your tastes. I had a slightly tweaked #1 in .416 Rigby (custom quarter rib inletted for Talley QD rings) that I used as my daily carry bear gun, but this isn't the duty where a single shot really shines. My complaint was that if the rifle is to be carried loaded, it has to be carried hot. I tried carrying it slung with the falling block out of battery and simply decorated the tundra with, what was then, very expensive .416 Rigby cartridges. When I carried the rifle slung muzzle down, after a few hours on the trail, I'd stop and check the rifle, and invariably the safety would have moved to the fire position. Slung in the muzzle down position often had the silly thing pointed at a companion's legs, and I'd always be harping to stay on the opposite side of the muzzle. But slung muzzle up put it right behind my ear! Neither situation was particularly comforting. But then again, a single shot is not the right tool for working bear gun. As a hunting rifle, the #1 is just fine. It has drop dead looks, nice balance, and if mine was a typical example, it'll shoot. If you get a hard kicker, check the bedding of the stock to the receiver; if it doesn't bear evenly, it'll split, and the warranty folks will just throw a different butt stock on it which after a few rounds will split too.
