[Bruce P Bruner]

Fellow member David Boyles sent me this page from Lawrence Shelton’s “The Clabrough Book”. It illustrates my exact “Change of heart” shotgun, serial number 970, circa 1873. The page details the non-rebounding hammers. A correct observation, though they do have a functioning half cock position. Being pre "Not For Ball" the barrels won't have any choke, a true "spreader".
Another interesting detail is the “WB” stamped on the lower rib, William Bayliss was a noted barrel maker at that time according to the article. It seem odd that the “WB” would be on the lower rib. If William Bayliss actually assembled the barrels I could understand the significance. It’s confusing not knowing what various processes were actually conducted “in house”.
The flowing Laminate pattern is very interesting, known as “mosaic”. The “riband” welds are only detectable with magnification, unlike most Damascus barrels.