Marrakia; I agree with your per se statement. "Dolls heads" without a method of holding them fastened in place such as the famous Westley Richards extension, are only providing a method to hold the the barrels to the face of the action and reducing flex of the action upon firing--not a fastener (or bite) to my mind.

The Westley Richards, the Scott screw grip and the Rigby rising bite are always good discussion topics of which makes the strongest double rifle action. I tend to agree with the late English gunsmith Jack Rowe of Enid, Oklahoma that the screw grip was likely the strongest double rifle action ever built in the UK.

I would like to know what our expert member Mark Mitchell--AKA Pugwash, double rifle maker in Scotland thinks about what is the strongest of the British double rifle actions, as well as what he thinks about what I write below.

My contention is that a "third bite", "rising bite" or whatever other bite should be able to hold the action closed during firing even if there were no other bites (such as the Purdey locking bolt engaged in the two barrel lumps slots) on the gun or rifle--although in most cases the Purdey bolt only holds the rear lump slot with spring tension, the front slot being used as a guide slot. I would like to know if a Rigby rising bite can do that--hold the barrels closed during firing. If it cannot it should it really be called a bite. I have had no experience with a Rigby rising bite to really know if it is a real bite or just a self adjusting for wear type of dolls head. I have always wondered about this subject and I am pleased that you brought it up.

Thanks for your indulgence.

Stephen