One of the first things I learned about double guns, probably from reading McIntosh, was to remove the barrels and suspend them, and if the soldering is sound, they'll ring like a chime when flicked with a fingernail.
Then, a few years ago I bought an early "pin" side Sterlingworth, in such good condition the barrels would ring when the gun was closed. A few guns later, and a 1907 OO Grade L.C. Smith came my way, that rang the barrels even louder when closed. Finally, I lucked into a TriStar 411 28 gauge made by Luciano Rota, and it rings like a chuch bell when closed, and even when you work the safety. I also once owned an humble Stevens 311 that would make a ring, when the action was closed.
I was wondering, if the barrels setting up a chime like a bell when the gun is closed, is a sign of quality, something the makers intended, or does this only happen with a few chance and random guns?
It sure sounds pretty, if you have one that rings when it closes.
