pomofo,
OK the photos show it is not one with rifle hammer on triggerplate. it is still an interesting drilling however. Is there a crown R on the rifle barrel? If so, it could have been rebored and new number added( bore, not groove or bullet diameter). My impression is that if an old number was polished off, it may have been bore diameter expressed in gauge. It looks like a drilling proofed during the transition to the improvements to the 1891 proof law, in 1911-12. This is largely because it has bore diameter in mm, but no case length. We see this pretty often during the transition period. I would date it to 1911-12. The right hand tumbler has a small pin that the left one doesn't have, there is likely a small "fly" on the right side that prevents the half cock notch from stopping the hammer when it is fired by the set trigger ( ie trigger not held back). It is interesting that the Tell rifle is chambered for 9.3x57R/360. This is the metric designation for the British 360 2 1/4" cartridge. I have been looking for a rifle in this caliber. I you need to sell it to help pay for the drilling, I'm interested and would give Dave his normal "cut".
Mike
