Break-Barrel Is Broken

[Hsing-ee]

When reading the magnificent 'Gas, Air and Spring Rifles of the World' by W.H.B.Smith I was slightly irritated by the title (spring guns ARE 'air' guns after all, although there are a few like the Daisy Peacemaker pistol which are purely spring operated) but majorly irritated by his use of 'barrel-cocker' instead of 'break-barrel'. Or maybe it was John Walter in his 'The Airgun Book', I cannot remember and those books are sold now. I am getting old.

Anyway, I have come to the conclusion that 'barrel-cocker' is a much better term than break-barrel. Who thought of 'break-barrel'? It's rubbish. It breaks at the breech, not the barrel.

Although not as bad as the German, which translates to 'bend-barrel'. Maybe that is why some HWs and the FWB Sport were known for barrel-droop.

Barrel-cocker and underlever-cocker and side-lever cocker. That's enough.