I brought home this Wm. Powell & Sons Lift Top Lever Snap Action 12 ga from an auction last weekend. I had not seen this type of action before and thought it was very interesting , I needed to examine it in detail.
There is absolutely no loosenes of the barrels in the receiver, even with the forend off, the fit is amazing. The locking surface on the rear barrel lug and the lifter lever are hardened tool steel inbedded, kind of like the hardened steel wedge on the rear lug/bite on Parker Bros. barrels.
I have read that this type of action dates back to 1867-9. The Patient #1287 is stamped on the water table. The serial number is 4947, can anyone come up with a year of production? The locks have rebounding hammers. Fitting the stock to the metal, wow, what a job that would be, note that the bottom of the receiver is wood!!
Now I will try to show some pics.