The pivoting pin at the bottom and the spring-loaded latch that Burgess added to the design allowed the gun to be carried in a folded state and snapped into a locked firing condition with a flip of the wrist. In fact, Burgess sold a belt holster for the shotgun to allow one to carry it under a coat in just that manner.
Burgess salesman Charlie Dammon – an impressive exhibition shooter – made an appointment with then New York City Police Board President Theodore Roosevelt in 1885, and arrived concealing a loaded Burgess in a holster under his coat. After exchanging a few greetings, Dammon thoroughly startled Roosevelt by whipping out the gun, snapping it shut, and blasting six blanks into the ceiling of the office. Roosevelt, always one to be enthusiastic about weapons technology, promptly order one hundred of the guns for use in the New York State Penal System
Ian’s Video: [7:20] https://youtu.be/HXvmGtLYwKA?si=
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a17376/folding-shotgun/
I may be in the minority but I think this is a rare example where an attempt to not infringe on a patent resulted in a design better than the patent that never got adopted.
IMO you’d have an easier time remaining on target shifting your rear hand. Where as pumping your fore hand would jostle your sights.