The aprobation for the quoted material on this shotgun belongs to the late Bill Goforth, just to set the record straight and provide credit where it is due.
Some other info:
The early Small Frame Hammerguns marked as .44 CALIBER were designed to shoot the .44-40XL shot shell or the .44 XL Marbles Gamegetter. The 2.5" .410 shot shell may fit, but unless the chamber has been reamed out - it probably will be a bit unsafe when the petals open on ignition. The .410 wasn't standardized in the industry until around 1920. Current RETAIL prices start around $700 for a fair to good example - up to over $1200 for V.Good+. These guns are fairly scarce and don't show up in the market very often. I have two - paid $800 for the .44 CALIBER and right around $1000 for the 28 ga.
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