Frequently Asked Questions
1.
Where is the gun made?:
The RBL, as with all Connecticut Shotgun guns, are manufactured in its
entirety in
2.
How are the parts made?:
Every component that is subject to wear is machined from a forging.
Either a square forging or a profile forging.
Many guns use castings or powered metals for major components, of which
we do not.
3.
How was the mechanical
design chosen for the RBL?: When
we decided we were going to build a shotgun that would be a much larger
production that we are used to, we acquired every shotgun that we know of from a
design standpoint, took them apart and studied them (i.e. sidelocks, boxlocks,
trigger plate action guns). We found
for years of problem free shooting, the basic design of an Anson & Deeley
action was the strongest foundation to build off of.
We studied the development of this by other manufacturers.
We used what advancements and improvements that we thought would help the
gun and also made it a double bridged action, removable hinge pin, a special dog
bone locking bolt for strength and many other special features that really make
the RBL unique.
4.
Why is it called a Round
Body?: The action housing is
designed in such a way that there are no sharp edges and corners.
This is much more difficult than just filing them off as the trigger
plate and floor plate need to specially designed, the sides of the receiver need
to be made where when it is rounded, the edges do not become paper-thin.
The internal parts need to be designed in a way that they do not
interfere with the rounding of the frame.
5.
Engraving:
We have come up with a proprietary process.
The launch edition design is by the Grand Master Engraver Richard Roy.
He oversees the entire process and each gun is signed by him.
6.
Case color receiver
option: This is done by
traditional bone and charcoal method.
7.
French grayed:
This is a hardening process will leave the receiver with a slightly gray
color. The engraving background is
dark and the contrast shows the engraving very well.
8.
Wood:
We use American walnut, Black walnut, Claro walnut, Turkish walnut and we
are also using California English walnut. We
buy a lot of wood for our other guns and sometimes we buy large lots of wood to
be able to procure some of the best pieces.
We have been storing wood for many years and have a very large wood
supply available for the RBL. If you
upgrade the wood to either Three, Four or Exhibition, you can specify the type
of wood species. If you do not, you
will receive one of the wood types that we use.
Please keep in mind, if you were to order a 4X piece of Claro walnut, it
would have much more figure than a 4X piece of Turkish walnut.
If you are looking for a high figure, we suggest the Claro or the Black
walnut, as opposed to the English or the Turkish walnut, where the pieces are
just not as dramatic.
9.
Checkering:
The checkering is 22 lines per inch at a 3.5 ratio to one.
10.
Draw bolt:
All stocks are fastened to the gun with a draw bolt.
11.
Stock dimensions:
Length of pull can be 14 ¼” or ordered with 14 ¾” at no additional
charge. The Length of pull is
measured on a double trigger gun from the front trigger center and on a single
trigger from the center of the trigger to the center of the butt plate.
1 ½” drop at comb, 2 3/8” drop at heel with 0 cast and approximately
4 degree pitch.
12.
Forends:
The standard splinter forend is approximately 8 5/8” long and fits
underneath the barrels. The optional
beavertail forend is approximately 10” long and wraps around to the center of
the barrel. Both forends have two
escutcheons through the wood to fasten the forend metal to the wood and both use
a push button Anson type forend release button.
13.
What is Cryo Pattern™?:
This is a trademark process by Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co.
After the barrel blank is gun drilled and then turned, the barrels are
put into a very deep freeze. This
releases the stress that is put in the material due to the extreme operations of
the forgings that are used for the barrel tubes. This prevents warping, twisting
of the tubes, especially when you are shooting many shells repeatedly that
reheat the barrels. This is the best
method that we have found to make sure the tubes remain perfectly straight.
14.
What is Hard Gold™?:
This is a trademark process by Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co.
After the parts are machined they are hardened we apply Hard Gold™,
which is a derivative of titanium nitrate.
The gold will prevent rust from forming on the parts and when hunting
moisture can get in the gun and even a minute amount can create problems with
the mechanism, especially over time. The
titanium adds a degree of hardness that is virtually unknown in standard machine
parts. This is especially helpful
where the hammer and sear engages. This
will add many years of life to a gun. If
you ever bought a drill or machine tool, you will notice a gold color that is
put on them. This is a type of
titanium nitrate that the manufacturers claim will add ten times the life to a
cutting tool.
15.
What is Tuff Bore™?:
This is a trademark process by Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co.
It is a very hard plating that is done internally, allowing you to shoot
any type of shot that we know of, without damaging the barrel.
We decided to do this because many shooting ranges and hunting areas are
restricting the use of lead shot and might eliminate lead completely.
16.
Pistol grip:
Pistol grip stocks have a metal grip cap that is blued and has one screw.
17.
Single trigger:
It is a single selective trigger with the selector in the trigger, very
similar to a Model 21. We feel it is
the most reliable trigger that we know of. Because
the top and bottom tang are joined in the rear, and the use of a draw bolt for
the stock, there is no movement between the top and bottom tang because they are
joined almost as one piece and movement of the top and bottom tang creates most
of the problems with single triggers. When
top and bottom tang screws are eliminated on the RBL, because of the use of the
draw bolt, this eliminates most of the problems.
18.
Weight and balance:
The guns weigh slightly over 6 pounds and the balance point is front of
the hinge pin for smooth follow through shooting.
19.
Wood finish:
It is an engineered finish that is very durable with a red alkanet root
color tone. The wood has an oil
satin appearance.
20.
How is the gun marked?:
It is marked Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co., New Britain, CT, USA, RBL
Launch Edition.
21.
How long has Galazan /
Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co. been in business?:
It was started in 1975 by Antony Galazan who is the President and CEO.
22.
When will deliveries
begin?: The full swing of
deliveries commences in April, 2006.
23.
What type of warranty?:
We offer an full warranty on the RBL for a six month period, which
includes mechanics, finish.
24.
Fit and Finish:
Most guns sold at the price of the RBL have very liberal wood to metal
fits and metal to metal fits. The
RBL is a very highly engineered precision product.
There are no gaps or spaces, and no inexpensive finishing techniques.
The appearance of this gun should be compared with guns that cost much
more. Most other guns at this price
also have a low degree of finishing, especially on the inside, machine marks,
not cleaned from casting. Our gun is
finished as clean on the inside as it is on the outside.
One of the major differences between a fine gun and a poorly made gun is
the degree of the finishing work that takes place.
The RBL is built to a very high standard.
25.
Wood drying:
Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co. has set up two wood kilns to dry all the
blanks before the stocks are made.
26.
Will there be other
gauges and additions of the RBL?: Right
now we are focused on producing the Launch Edition in 20 gauge with the options
offered. At this time we are not
making any statements about any future expansions of this project.
27.
Why 41 – 40 steel for
the receiver?: It is very
strong and very durable. The down
side to that is that it is very hard to machine and the initial cost is more,
and it consumes cutting tools very quickly because of the hardness.
But we feel it is the best steel suited for the frame.
28.
How can this product be
made in the
29.
Experience:
Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co. has many years of experience of building
double guns. We are currently the
only manufacturer in the
30.
Ejectors:
It is the time proven
31.
Steel:
The forgings come from a steel mill in
32.
Ribs:
The top rib is a concaved, non-matted game rib with one small brass front
bead. The bottom rib is two piece.
The short rib is actually one piece with the barrel lug, which makes the
chances of the barrel lug coming off or becoming loose almost impossible, which
is a very common problem with all side by side shotguns.
33.
Regulation:
All barrels are regulated at 40 yards to shoot flat.
34.
Can I request a special
serial number?: We are not
offering that. You could put it in
as a comment, and if possible we will try to accommodate you.
If more than one gun is ordered, you can request consecutive serial
numbers.
35.
Ejector blades:
There is a right and left and each is machined from a solid forging.
36.
Trigger guard:
Pistol grip or straight grip both have long tangs that fit into the
trigger plate and is very unique as they are installed without any screws and
have rolled edges on both the right and left side.
There are no sharp corners to hit your finger on.
37.
Did Connecticut Shotgun
Mfg. Co. buy a gun line to produce the RBL?
NO. Everything is designed
and built by us in the
38.
Butt plate:
It is made from traditional hard rubber type material.
It is not plastic.
39.
Choke tubes:
They are especially designed thin wall tubes.
When they are installed in the gun, there is no appearance of a choke
tube. This gives the shooter the
ability to switch chokes without the unsightliness of choke tubes.
There are no notches at the end of the tubes or barrels.
There are five tubes with each gun; skeet, improved cylinder, modified,
improved modified and full. A choke
tube wrench along with a beautiful tooled leather choke tube pouch for your belt
that is thick and will hold three tubes and the wrench.
40.
Case and accessories:
The RBL comes with a marine quality canvas case with genuine wool felt
interior. With leather corners, the
case corners and assembly is stitched through the hardwood frame.
Included in the case is; two nickel plated snap caps, one oil bottle,
cleaning rod, one mop, one brush, choke tube pouch with chokes and wrench,
shooting glasses and hearing protection in aluminum container, a Connecticut
Shotgun Mfg. Co. RBL leather label, warranty card and instruction manual.
41.
Why shooting glasses and
hearing protection as an accessory?:
We do a lot of shooting at Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co.
We never go shooting without both of these items.
Over time from constant shooting it will affect your ear drums and the
glasses are poly-carbonate. If
something were to happen while shooting like a ricochet, they will protect
your eyes from stray pellets or debris.
42.
Assisted opening system:
This is found on some of the very best guns made in the world.
If you are going to do a lot of fast shooting, all you need to do is open
the top lever and it will assist in the opening, ejection of the fired shell and
cocking of the gun. It makes
shooting a lot of fun and the design of our system there is very little extra
effort needed to close the action. If
for any reason you do not want to use it, it is easily removed in 15 seconds and
can be easily put back in when it is required again.
If it is not purchased initially with the gun, the cost will be $900, and
not $450.
43.
How many RBL Launch
Editions will be made?: We
are not making that number available, but we plan to continue producing parts
until May, 2006.
44.
How long will the $300
paid in full discount be in effect?:
It will expire when we can no longer keep up with the demand of priority
delivery.
45.
Springs:
The main spring is a flat V main spring.
The majority of the springs are flat springs, and there are some coil
springs.
46.
Can custom alterations
we ordered for the RBL?: NO.
We do not offer any work outside of the standard options.
47.
Chamber length:
All RBL’s are 2 ¾”.
We would like to thank you for your interest in the RBL. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call. All specifications and descriptions are subject to change without notice.