That sort of thing (widows throwing away guns) happens all the time.
One of my aunts threw away a top-break of some sort after my uncle died because some gunstore clerk told her it "wasn't safe".
The best I could get out of her was that it was a top break (by describing the operation). She had no idea what kind.
I just hope it was an H&R (or worse). My uncle was not a gun collector, so I doubt that it was a high-dollar gun, but I would have rather had it than have her throw it away.
She KNEW that I was interested in guns but stubbornly went her own way.