Although I know next to nothing about Lefevers, I have seen Brad's work many times and can say that his restoration work is excellent. The cast on looks significant, and the barrel wall thickness is at the minimum that I would consider. Oddly enough, I live only 40 miles from the seller! His pictures could be better though.
Karl
To me, no, it isn't quite reasonably priced. It is "refinished", but certainly not restored anywhere near original Lefever finishes. It has what would be considerable left cast for even a left handed shooter. The right handed seller says he can shoot it, but there is a difference between shooting, and shooting well. For a right handed shooter, it should have built in lead for right to left crossing shots. It has an ugly non-original recoil pad. And it has a garish case hardening job. It seems awfully heavy at 7 lb. 11 oz. considering the minimum barrel wall thicknesses. With 30" barrels and those extra full chokes, I wouldn't be surprised if it started out at closer to 8 lbs. and had some fairly deep pits polished out. And why is the seller requiring FFL transfer for an 1891 gun?
Bachelder does seem to do pretty nice work on Damascus barrel bluing. But these seem more brown and white than black and white. We don't know who did the case hardening, but very few are able to reproduce original Lefever case colors. So a re-do almost always stands out like a sore thumb. From this distance, the stock wood looks original, but poorly refinished for sure.
Somebody is trying to recoup what they spent on a poor refinish job that screwed up a collectible gun... and it shouldn't be you who pays for that mistake.
Might that be Mark Oulette that is selling this LeFever? The "Mustang Marine" is my clue-- When Brad was still with us, I would occasionally see Captain Oulette in the shop chatting with Brad. I agree with your statement about Brad's craftsmanship- 100%-- RWTF
1” of cast on and 3 1/8” of drop? I’d like to see a righty shoot that. That’s a one man gun.
I’d have to have that one bent.
The early side pivot opener with rod cocking action having ejectors is not very common. There has however just been too much done to this gun to bring that kind of money in my opinion.
Doesn't matter how good or well known the refinisher is, its still Not Lefever Original. Like so many others I'd have to figure in enough to take care of that cast on, no way I could shoot with that much "Wrong Side" bend for me.
The stock has been carved out on the left side so a right hander can conveniently shoot it. This modification may have been done when the gun was built. No claim was made that Brad did any of this work except the barrels. He surely had nothing to do with the pathetic leather covered pad. Anyone who covets a Lefever should have been at this weekend's Baltimore Show. I could have bought ten of them that met my standards of both price and condition.
I do not think the dishing of the stock is near enough for most right shoulder/right eye dominate shooters to be able to shoot it. If you look at the top down view you can see the comb, even after being dished is still heavily cast on.
Have Mark send me the gun. I will pass judgement on it's suitability for a right handed shooter. Have him send me a box of shells also.
Thank you all for the replies and information. I apparently need a better monitor? I can't see the detail that has been described.
If this gun was without the explained refurbish flaws and this was original condition, what would it's value be?
Thanks again.