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I notice there is different ways a fore-end is held in place ,my 470 double has a Rigby swing lever, my webley a push-rod design and others have a pull out lever.

Is one better than the others?

cheers
steve

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Wilkinson's Screw Grip Fore-end Fastener is the oldest of the common three, and is by far the most positive, durable, and trouble-free. You described it as "a Rigby swing lever". Patent was originally Wilkinson Sword Co.'s (you know, the razor blade people), Rigby apparently purchased it later.

Anson's 1872 push-button design ("my Webley a push rod design") came next, and is the next best. Reliable, but on occasion the threaded stem has been known to turn out under heavy recoil, locking the fore-end on the gun. Getting it off requires removing the wood from the fore-end iron with a chisel. Good design, but not as ideal for a DR as the screw-grip lever type.

The Deeley & Edge design of 1873 ("a pull out lever") was both the last and the least. I've had this type on a number of double guns of various makes, and have never had anything but trouble with it. Of course, this is the one that Merkel, Searcy, Heym, Krieghoff, and Chapuis all use on their double rifles. I gather that the parts for this type must be available in quantity really cheap.

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Sound right that they all want to use the worst, and that the development stopped with it only shows that its must be the worst. As for the germans they been using it sinse they abandoned the wedge and they are a bunch of realy sloppy builders arent they?

But i agree for an old english double shotgun the anson is the right one, and for a bore gun the wilkinson would be prefered. But this has nothing to do with the quality of the lock only the tradition.

BTW Im pritty short about 175cm and i tend to hold all s/s doubles att the beginning of the forend,
so a swullen chunk of timber would only mean that my hands wont be able to grip around it. That means that i would have to hold on to the checkering of the wood. And getting the hand around the barrels are a good way to improve the instinctive aim.