My Dad has one that is so old, there is no model # on it and the latest patent date listed is 1908. I don't recall the tang area cracking, but I do know the forestock split which made the action not cycle properly. A new forestock solved that problem after several attempts to glue it together.
There is a ring under the action spring which is reversible. (The long spring that kinda slinky's out when you remove the barrel during takedown for cleaning and maintenance.) This ring in one direction allows the use of light target type loads, and in the other direction allows the use of heavy field loads. Placed in the wrong direction for the application will result in either super heavy banging of the action when cycling, or no cycling at all. Other than that, it is very straight-forward and a fun gun. Oh, it is a Browning design and so will appear to 'machine-gun' if it is not held tightly. My grandfather thought something was worn out, but I had a new Browning Auto 5, which is the same design, and when I was running my canoe down the streams of Maine while duck hunting, many times I would pick up the shotgun with one hand, hold it to my shoulder and commence firing - onehanded. It forced me to lightly pull the trigger and the recoil kept my finger hitting the trigger! A little alarming at first until I understood what was going on.
After that, I just planned to shoot three times at each duck I came upon and kept the other hand on the paddle! LOL I also reloaded shotgun shells during that time period.
ENJOY!!!
Regards,
Sweetwater
