Indeed it does. The back-action lock plate has the same identical shape & all pin locations appear to be identical. Mine has not quite as much coverage of the engraving but does have a pair of birds in an oval at the rear of each plate. The lettering on the action flats is read in opposite direction from this one IE stock to left rather than right. The diamond with the 397 in it is on left flat just in front of the standing breech. It does not have the "No" in front of the 397, in fact, the word patent withe final T just over the 9 in the 397. The makers patent action 257764 is also on the left action flat & starts next to the breech continuing to the end of the flat, just above the center slot for the barrel lugs when held stock to left with flats facing you. Wish I could read whatever else was supposed to be in that diamond, but that's it. This action certainly looks identical to my J P Clabrough & Bros though.
Interestingly to read the top rib markings on the barrel the muzzles are held to the left opposite the action flat marks.SN, Proof marks etc on barrel flats & lower barrel are read with the muzzle to right so to go from top to bottom the barrel has to be flipped end to end rather than just rolled over.
My proof marks are post-1887 & say choke. I suspect this is a late 1890s gun, but don't have definitive proof of age. As I have stated on several occasions I have done some very good shooting "For Me" on quail, woodcock & rabbit with this gun using 1 oz of #8 & #6 shot at around 1150 fps @ about 8K PSI, according to the loading manual.
Two or three things worth mentioning, The bolts do not have built-in wear compensation & the top lever always stops At Center. It is however still tight & on face. The top lever does not have a latch over, so lever returns to center when the gun is opened or taken down. The bolt is cammed back by the front barrel lug upon closing. Even though it has an automatic safety with the gun open the safety can be pushed forward & triggers pulled & the hammers can be let down easily. "IF" however you snap the forend off with the hammers Down its a Bear to get it back together, locks need to be cocked to put the forend on.
Maybe one of these days I'll get around to taking some pictures & posting them.
Last edited by 2-piper; 02/07/19 11:48 PM.
