Sorry, but I'm afraid I was a bit obtuse in my first post. And I don't mean to mean a know it all, either.
However, those things sticking up from the action aren't not there to open the gun. They're there to push the cocking arms out of the way of the tumblers as the gun closes. This was done to prevent misfires.
Those things are not driven or assisted by springs, either. The only thing that moves them is the action of falling/rising of the bbls and the tipping of the cocking arms (I had the bbls off the gun, so I'm certain of this). While they probably help the gun open, this is not their true intent.
I have seen this feature before. It was on a massive H&H Royal double rifle. I've never seen it on a shotgun, though.
I was wondering if anyone had ever seen them on another one.
BTW: the gun shown is a 20th century Scott Monte Carlo B. I'm pretty certain it's on a Rogers-patent action. Whoever ordered it maybe have wanted one more way to be sure his gun was going to work right in the pigeon ring.
Thanks. Sorry for the mixup. I'll try for clearer writing next time.
OWD
