It's not really a "self opener" in the sense of a Purdey, Lancaster, or C & H, where springs actually assist in opening and cocking the gun. Cocking the MF Ideal is done by pulling the underlever towards the stock. All the force needed to do that comes from your hand, and when you've done it, there's nothing to keep gravity from letting the barrels fall open.
These are great, iconic guns with many distinctive features, but they're not everyone's cup of tea. This seems like a very steep price to pay to find out if it's yours. Personally, I'd pass. Kirby Hoyt at Vintagedoubles.com has a few for sale for much less.
