John;
Your question has been answered but as a general rule if a gun was meant to have a hold over latch it cannot be closed without the lever being to the right. I do not have a Meriden but have doubles both with & without a holdover latch. All those without were built that way & will close properly while none of those with will close if the lever is in the center position, they simply strike the bolt if attempted.

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