Do hunters in Africa ever use those leather handguards British driven-game shooters lash around their barrels? The steel in front of a splinter fore end gets hot in the sun and the leather might save salty fingerprints. Catching on the gunbearer's shoulder could be a problem, I suppose.

What to do when negotiating fences and rough places is also a problem. I've been inclined to break open my gun and leave the cartridges in. However, some English writer has said the breech and fences are less likely to be burred in a fall if you unload and close the action. Not so handy when rough shooting or after DG, of course.