Then what happens if you close it to hard?

Never did it but it cant be good ! Maybe you can tell us !

I have no idea. I thought maybe you might tell us.

Simply put gents, you cannot replace the barrel set if the top lever is centered. The reason for that is the square bolt that engages the barrel lug to hold it tightly shut when in actual use has been allowed to slide into the lock position when pressing the trip down to center the top lever to store the gun. If you then try to close the barrels for reassembly the bottom of the lug hits the square bolt. Both those parts are very hard steel. You would have to break the bolt or the bottom of the barrel lug to somehow close the barrel set and that ain’t gonna happen even if a sledge hammer is used. (Well never tried that but I’m guessing that’s a correct statement).

For interest there are approximately 100 parts (plus or minus a few based on vintage) in a Parker Bros hammerless shotgun. Many are fixed in place and some move to facilitate operation.

Here’s a look at all those parts

When the top lever is turned, the bolt is moved rearward until the trip springs into the notch in the bolt. Once that happens the lever is now held open until the trip is released from the notch.

When you push the trip down with a dowel to center the lever, watch what happens with the bolt. Try moving the lever back and forth a little to see the movement of the bolt.

Smarter folks than me created this gun but I’ve enjoyed tinkering with them. Cheers Jack

Yep that is where I was going with my first post But oh well ! Well said Jack

OK well this is embarrassing, so is this why my 28g Repro case has to be pushed down rather hard to close??? But I don't use the case thank God, I use a soft case. I put it back in once. Is there an emoji for clueless?