Here's an excerpt from a Holt auction catalog. To me it appears the grip forend patent info discussed above was not Harvey's or Rigby's . Harvey's patent does not mention a forend latch, but is for retracting firing pins pat. [1793 of 1866] No Rigby patent for the latch has been found. So what is the Patent number for the "Wilkinsons Patented Lever Forend"?
Sale 1011 Lot 1075
A RARE HARVEY 1866 PATENT 12-BORE ROTARY-UNDERLEVER HAMMERGUN BY WILKINSON & SON, serial no. 6460, No.2, 30in. black powder only damascus barrels (right barrel with dents and wall thickness below recommended minimum), rib engraved 'WILKINSON & SON. GUN MAKERS TO HER MAJESTY, PALL MALL. LONDON.' and with scrollwork at the breech ends, action incorporating Charles Harvey patent retractable strikers, patent no. 1793 of 7th July 1866, use number 148, Jones patent rotary-underlever, rebounding sidelocks with carved hammers, gold-inlaid indicator lines, best border and bold scroll engraving, the standing breech engraved 'WILKINSON'S No. 148 PATENT. 1866.', 14 1/4in. well-figured stock, cracked through and repaired at hand, including chequered steel buttplate, 'Wilkinson's patent Lever Fore End', weight 7lb. 4oz. The makers records show the gun was sold in 1870
Estimate 500-700
