I was thumbing through one of my hunting books last night and came across a picture of an open rib McNaughton .600 nitro. The barrels are totally separate for most of their length and are only joined for the last inch or so under the foresight.
Not being familiar with this cofiguration I was wondering what advantages, if any, there are in building a DR that particular way?

I've seen this several times, but are usually only an unfinished double rifle, being used before the finish work is done!

I would say the only thing I can think of that would be of any beneit is keeping the barrels cool in a culling sittuation. It might cut weight some, but I wouldn't think that would be a good idea on a 600NE double rifle.

It also could be free the barrels thinking that hamonics are a factor in double rifles, whih isnt the case with ribs, but would become a factor if the ribs were left off, and tied down at the muzzle, and breech! A negative one I fear!

The Blaser double rifle is made that way, but has a synthetic rib of flexable plastic wedged between the barrels.

MAYBE MCNAUGHTON WAS TRYING TO COPY THE BLASER ???? HA

I saw such a double at the H&H booth at SCI maybe 5 yrs ago. Could have been a McNaughton. I am almost certain it was a .600. Nice double, even if it looked like a Remington 3200 turned sideways.

Here's a MacNaughton .303 ribless double rifle that I've always had a bit of a crush on.
This the only ribless double I've ever been able to stand the sight of...
(did I just end two sentences with prepositions?)









Enjoy!



--Tinker