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I have been reloading 7/8 oz loads for skeet for the last few years so light loads won't be an issue, just need to get the gun in to Bachelders to check it and give me the ok for 2 3/4 shells. Am disappointed I had to leave it behind for my last grouse hunt of the season, but I should have looked into this sooner. When it was given to me the previous owner thought it was from the 40's and with the blueing it looked new enough to me. Thanks for all the info, will update when it's cleared for first round of skeet.

I just remembered, I need to draw from some more of your knowledge, the safety resets with opening the barrels but will not go back on once moved to fire. Is this normal or is something amiss? To get safety back on I have to reopen the barrels.
While I am at it let me ask another, is the barrel length the length minus the chamber or actual length of barrels when broke open?

You should be able to re-engage the safety. Might have them take a look at it.
Also, the length is the entire barrel when broken open.

Skeeter, I've never worked on a lewis, but could the transfer bar be stuck? I know on some of those crazy Italian gun I have taken apart, the transfer bar is hooked into the safety and attached instead of riding into a follower..

Alright, I got the gun back now. Not real impressed with the fix. The safety has a definite click when switched off, but no feel whatsoever as to whether or not it engages when safety switched on. Also the square opening that should be centered over the marked safe on the gun when safety engaged is only covering half the safe. I do not feel any of this is right, let me know what you think. The gunsmith I brought it to has a great reputation and has had many refinished old doubles in double gun journal so he knows old side by sides, but I think he is very busy and has other people doing some of the repairs.

Oh and the reason I was told the safety would not engage was the safety screw was binding on the stock inletting.

Sounds like there could be a whole bunch of crud built up in there over the years, or that the screw head is still hitting the inletting.
Try loosening the stock screw closest to the front of the safety about a 1/4 turn, and see if that helps it any.

That didn't seem to make a difference.

You may have to remove the stock and see where it is hitting, then relieve it a bit.
Also, check in the cut-out where the safety actually rides and see it there is built-up crud there. A good way to tell is if will completely engage when it is out of the stock.