Mint Unfired top action
 

SN 53, 121, a laminated grade 0 12ga.

Bruce Day, Parker collector for 8 minutes

Breathtaking

I don't know where you guys find this stuff- but keep 'em coming

A fishtail top lever. I'm not sure it gets any better than that!!!

A little hint for those wondering about how to tell if a gun is unfired or just re-case colored over, or even torched by the fellow who gets on this forum.

Look for corrosion pits around the hammer nose holes in the standing breech. They can be re case colored over, but they will still show and then the case colors will be in the corrosion pits. A restorer can't grind those out, because it will leave an indentation and the barrels will then be off face. I suppose the only way would be to micro weld then file smooth then re -case color, and maybe some restorer will do that someday. That's the end of what I know.

I was talking to Chuck Brunner, he has a DHE 16 gauge in his shop complete with the packing that he thinks may be unfired. For sale if anyone is interested! Bruce, didn't mean to hijack your thread, the condition of your gun made me think of it.

Rick Losey was asking where to find such a gun, well, call Chuck.

I don't own this gun. It came from Puglisi.

I have one of those too Bruce, a sixteen 0-frame with lightening cuts and a fishtail lever. You've seen it, I'm sure.

Possibly the most intriguing thing about these unfired guns is the question that may never be answered.... "Why were they never fired?" "What event or series of events led to these 'utility grade' guns, made one-hundred or more years ago, to be put away and never taken out?"