"Are you saying the act of pushing the top lever over to open the gun also cocks the hammers."

Yes that is correct. The top lever acts to open the breech and cock the hammers at the same time. On both guns the lever is much longer than on normal top lever guns, providing enough leverage. Sorry I have no pics at present because my day to day computer had a melt down and I am in the process of a deep restore.

I did have one gunsmith comment that he wouldn't want to shoot a round of clays with that mechanism as he expected his thumb wouldn't take it. I've never shot clays but a morning of 25 released pheasant caused me no problem.

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.