clark -you nailed the “theoretical” concept behind the beavertail forarm.

1- Provide a better "grip."
2- Protect the hands from the heat of the barrel.

In reality, the forend (of any type) the Brits would say is there to house the ejectors and keep the barrels from coming off when you open the gun… they’re not for holding on to while shooting the gun.

I'm not sure when in the US it became popular, but it must date back to the Parkers, LC Smiths, 21s, etc... as these are the first doubles I can think of with big beavertails.

Now, those are shotguns, so how did they end up on double rifles? I s-u-s-p-e-c-t they became popular in the late 60's early 70's as that's the era I’ve seen them on, lots of single trigger doulbes of that era too - but there are better historians here than myself who can shed more light on the timing of the beavertail’s popularity.

Now, as to the concept (points 1 & 2 above). Neither is justification for a beavertail on a game gun or double rifle IMO.

In both cases the gun should be held by the barrels, not the forend. In a double rifle of significant recoil, if you hang on to the forend long enough, it is apt to separate the soldered hook from the bottom rib.

So if you hold the gun by the barrels, where it's supposed to be held, (ahead of the forend) then you're not touching the forend (be it beavertail or splinter) and points 1 & 2 really become moot - boiling down the beavertail vs. splinter to aesthetics and personal preference.

Again, a good gun with a beavertail forend is easily made into a good gun with a splinter forend… or left alone… depending on what the buyer wants. It’s kind of like a long LOP on a gun. It’s easy to remove wood if that’s what the owner wants – putting it back on is the tough part.

So why do many modern doubles have beavertails? I suspect their popularity is either for aesthetics or perpetuation of points 1 & 2 above.

As to the heat from the barrels? I recommend a glove.