I have an 1896 No. 2E (No.2's became Specialty Grade after 1912) with 30" Damascus barrels, the gun weighs 8 lbs. 15 ozs which I thought was very heavy. I sent for a Research Letter and it stated gun was ordered to weigh 9 lbs. Taking off the butt plate there is a 7/8" hole filled with lead. It is not uncommon to find these guns weighing more than listed in catalogs.