old shotgun with side lever (what was it?)

[anweis]

A few weeks back i saw an interesting old shotgun, 20 ga., in a pawn shop. It was old, sort of plain looking, nothing fancy, lots of patina and the metal finish  was brown . I did not have my glasses with me, so i did not bother to read the markings on the shotgun (i wonder why in the world do they have such poor lighting in a pawn shop). Just a plain, apparently in good working order, single shot, break open shotgun, for $39.90, at least 50 years old.
What i found very interesting about this shotgun was the fact that it had a lever on the right side of the receiver, like some British Rook rifles. When pushing on this lever the shotgun would break open. There was also a nicely shaped external hammer, and the trigger felt nice.
Now, i did not buy it then, and two weeks later when i returned with the cash, it was already sold.
Can anyone give me a faint idea what type of shotgun it could have been? I would like to start looking and buy one of these.
I was thinking that one of these shotguns with a good action could be turned into a classy slug gun with nice walnut, rifled bore, and express sights.

[Ramrod]

The only side lever I can recall was a Steven's, made back in the 60's. But my memory is not as good as it used to be.

[jh45gun]

H&R made some side levers but they were more internal like a push button type. the only other choice I see is a Stevens Model 940 it had a side lever and was made from 1961 to 1970. I had one, worse recoiling shotgun I ever shot!!   Needless to say I did not keep it I am a big guy 6'1" and heavy and it would rock me. Jim

[Leftoverdj]

Sounds like one of the nameless Belgian wonders brought in in huge numbers pre-WW I. Countless little shops made guns on contract mostly copying British designs. They sold for $2-3 in this country. Because so many were sold, they still turn up but since most of them are not nitro proofed, I'm wary of them.