The gun in question here has an interesting top tang, quite long, and quite the inletting project for a stockmaker!! I just went through the Colt Model 1878 shotgun pictures on Bing and the guns for sale on Guns International and most Model 1878s have no rib extension, a top tang barely as long as the top lever and early style firing pins. Some guns have rib extensions, some have solid head plungers, and some top tangs are a bit longer then the toplever, some a bit more, but I didn't find any as long as on this gun.
That is a strange top tang thanks for the eyes Researcher I never noticed. I re measured the barrels 10x and the mean is .769 and .765
wall thickness is .055
If I place a piece of .006 shim stock on the water table it locks nice and tight no movement
Keith "I assumed the setscrew you mentioned was a retaining screw for the hinge pin you called a side screw"
Yes the hinge pin will it tighten the lockup?
Lastly would getting a Colt letter do anything except remove 100$ from my wallet??
