Quote:
By means of the check hook & pin, no care need be used in opening our gun to insert shells, as all strain is taken off the joint or hinge by the check hook engaging the pin; on the contrary, the gun ""should"" be thrown open ""hard"", as this will insure the cocking of both hammers. (quotes mine)
Lefever Arms Co catalog 1889; 1892 & 1913 catalogs say the gun "Can" be thrown open with one hand with no fear of harm, but do not use the term "Should".
This should be good for another 13 pages or so :p
Miller

Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra