Thank you for the replies. I knew someone would be able to answer some questions.
The lever is the takedown. If you look at the foreend, the wood is relieved so that it clears the reciever without taking off the forearm.
The checkering is interesting

and there is a moose carved into the stock. Carving wood is easy compared to engraving. I agree with the impressed reciever work.

Thanks again.

Tom