Forums.NitroExpress.com

Good Morning,

Was at a gunshow yesterday and this little 16 Ga. caught my eye. I like SXS and have a few drillings and really didn't need another but it was unique enough I knew it just had to follow me home but at $500 I am not sure if I got a good deal or not. There is a little wiggle between the barrel and fence with the forend off but if you slip a sheet of typing paper in the action you cannot slide it out so the play is minimal and should not effct function.

Barrels are 26" and pull to the front trigger is about 13 3/4" with about 1 1/8" of drop. I am not sure how you discribe the stock as it isn't the tranditional pistol grip or as pronounced as the Prince of Whales style and isn't a straight english style. It is a light gun tipping the scales at just a skoosh over 6 pounds.

From what I was told and can find the barrels, monoblock and lugs are all made from one piece of steel.

It has a really odd (to me) sight picture with the front site tucked down between the barrels and machined wing affair on the rear. It actually makes the front sight look closer than it really is.

Another item that struck me as unusual is that the Greener Style Cross Bolt that locks the barrel is Square,not round and the hole in the barrel extention is square as well and not round.

Chokes are a bit odd compared to what I am use to seeing the right barrel is actually tighter (full) than the left barrel (Improved Modified).

Anyhow I am looking for some information on the gun, aproximate age and value as well as who it may have been made by and if it is safe to shoot. Most of the markings are clear in the photos that are attached, let me know if you need to see something else. I am assuming the 6.5 indicates the gun originally had 2.5" chambers but at sometime they were extened to 2.75" according to my chamber gauge.

In case they are hard to see there is a on the water table:
PT with crown over it
PS with crown over it
Number 54

On the barrel Flats and barrels there are:
What looks like an EP, E backwards, inside a circle
16.8
6.5
2 R's back to back
PT with crown
PS with crown
3988
C.G.Paris
Rectifie in a semi circle
the letter S
the work Monobloc
The number 454

My concern is if it is rated for nitro powder and safe to shoot with moderate to light loads for bird hunting?

Pics below,, Any and all help appreciated....

Thanks,
DonT