"F. Beesley patents 425 & 14488 of 1884 and H.A.A. Thorns patent of 7242 of 1894"
Regarding Lancasters, these patents are unique in that two different guns can be made using this design...a sidelock and a "body action". The body action looks like a A&D type boxlock, but it's not...its mechanism is entirely different from the a&d.
I'd like to see the inside works on this Crecent/Triumph and see how it really compares to the Beesely/Thorn patent. The compressors on the action flats look nothing like the compressors on a Lancaster, and the barrels are also lacking the compressor bar fitted through the lumps.
This action actually, to my eyes anyway, closer resembles the Smtih easy opener used on Churchills, Rossons, etc.
Dustin
Dustin,
I believe Beesley patent 425 and his US patent 34040 are the same.
https://www.google.com/patents/US320040#v=onepage&q&f=false The pin/screw locations in the patent drawings match the frame screws in the Crescent. The only variance I see is the omission of #14 - crossbar and the pivot levers #13 are extended and acted on by the barrel flats. In doing so the frame cut is reduced to a window for the pivot levers #13 which should make for a stronger frame than the Lancaster design.
A variety of self and assisted openers are covered here:
https://shotguncollector.com/category/in-english/John
