odd ring-release single barrel shotgun

[hso]

A buddy of mine has a very old single shot that we can't find any markings on, but it has a unique feature that may allow one of you to ID it.

The gun breaks by pulling on a ring inside the trigger guard. The ring is positioned just inside the guard in front of the trigger.

Other than this the gun is unremarkable.

Thanks for any help.

Mike

 

[fal308]

Have you taken off the forearm and looked there for any marks? The Europeans most always had some markings (proof marks, makers marks, etc).
If no markings I would suspect an American maker. Can photos be obtained?

 

[Jagermeister]

Still Searching

JM:banghead:

 

[Jagermeister]

The three triggers

hso:
The only thing I can come up with is a Stevens Arms Company double gun that sounds similar to what you are describing. Photo atached. It is one of the earliest SXS's made by Stevens and mfg'd between 1877 and 1884. The front trigger is the opener.

As there is a similariity to your description, and with no markings, it may be possible that your shotgun is an early model single barrel of the same era and possibly the same company. This is only a guess on my part however.

JM

 

[fal308]

The triple trigger Stevens was my first thought also. Though hso states that it's a ring. That's what's throwing me off.
BTW in the movie Tombstone, Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) uses an original triple trigger Stevens in the scene in the stream when he goes after the Cowboys after the shootout. It is a very rare piece.