A few years ago I bought a war-trophy Saint-Etienne SxS 12 gauge as an extra gun for guests. It was probably made in late 1920's, has "Wonder" on the top lever, probably a gun made by Ravat, a Saint Etienne company which marketed "Wonder" bicycles at the time using the same font. It definitely has the V-C inverted top lever screw "Helice-style" top lever. It was discussed on this line:
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=481696

I rarely use the gun. It's choked very tight .026, .026. However, because of the shortage of 2 1/2" shells, I've recently been shooting the gun using 2 3/4 inch ammo because It's built like a tank. My problem is even after extensively deep cleaning the gun, and putting a couple of hundred rounds through it, it is so difficult to break that I sometimes have to use a table to assist. The top lever is so tight a gorilla might have a problem with it. Looking at the thinning bluing on the left barrel where you have to grip it to break it, it's pretty obvious that the original owner had the same problem.

I'm not a gunsmith but what might I do to loosen things up?

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Last edited by Argo44; 03/30/23 09:07 PM.
Baluch are not Brahui, Brahui are Baluch