doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lefever indicators

You can see the cocking indicators on my G grade.





This is a DS


You can see the pins on "DS" which replaced the screw on the "G" grade. These often get confused for cocking indicators. An "I" grade is not that common by the way.

Pete

The picture of the G-Grade shows where the indicators are located. Notice that the picture of the DS does not have them...Geo

Now I understand. There are no indicators on the sideplates of this I-Grade gun, only the large screw heads toward the rear of the plates. Chambers, by the way, appear to be 2 3/4". I see no marks except the serial number on the underside of the barrels, so I assume the only way to figure out the chokes is to gauge the muzzles or pattern the gun. McIntosh says the barrels were taper-bored from breech to muzzle rather than choked near the muzzle.

Here's an I grade. It probably is choked pretty tight and should have 2 9/16 chambers unless it has been lengthened to 2 3/4.

Glad the pictures helped. Chambers should not be 70mm unless they have been reamed. As for choke, you are correct, they need to be patterned. Here is an ad from 1911, guess what chokes produced this.




Gordon,

Nice "I" grade.

Pete

Very similar, except this one has a hard rubber cap on the pistol grip. Measuring the chamber is a little tricky, but if 2 9/16 was standard I think that's what it is. Does this mean I have to trim shells, or do can I shoot light 2 3/4" target loads?

You want low pressure loads. Here are original Lefever recommendations.



Some sources for low pressure loads.

http://www.republicmetallic.com/
http://www.dkgtrading.com/nobelsport/lr1.html
http://www.gamebore.com/index.asp
http://www.rstshells.com/
http://www.polywad-shotgun-shells.com/
http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/shotshell/target/managed-Recoil_STS.asp
http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/shotlist.aspx?bn=18&use=21
http://www.bandpusa.com/
http://www.goexpowder.com/product-blackdawge.html
http://www.federalpremium.com/ Federal Vintage Gold Medal Ammunition

Pete

2 9/16" was never a standard chamber length in 12ga, it was the common length of a 16ga chamber in that era. 12ga Lefevers will be found with "Original" factory chambers in both 2 5/8" & 2 3/4" lengths, and other lengths to order. 2 3/4" shells were readily available by at least 1900, probably earlier, & this is a common chambering for Lefevers, particularly in the heavier weights (7¼lbs & over). The pins behind the fences are for the overhead sears to pivot on & also serve as firing pin retainers.

2-Piper, you are correct. I had been talking to a friend about 16 ga when I replied. My I Grade has 2 5/8 chambers, 30" barrels and weighs 7 1/2 lbs.
thanks,
Gordon

Cocking indicators would be on the false sideplates, and as noted, they would protrude when the action is cocked as the hammers cam them outward. Normally the DS and I grades do not have them, but I have a DS with cocking indicators and a twist barrel with dolls head, and the LAC monogram buttplate rather than the more common plain serrated type. DS barrels are supposed to be all fluid steel with the straight barrel extension. My two I grades both have the LAC buttplate and one has a capped pistol grip stock though the Elliot books say all I grades were semi-pistol grip with serrated buttplate. These are a small example of why they say "never say never with Lefevers". All of the variations I have seen seem to be upgrades rather than downgrades. I suggest you read "Uncle Dan Lefever, Master Gunmaker" as it has a lot of information that will make you appreciate your new acquisition even more. I grades usually have an SD&G on the underside of the barrels for Shoverly Dales and Gates, the hardware store that marketed them. Being a low grade gun, most were used hard, and they are usually found in poorer condition. Production of the I grade was around 2500 total, so they are scarce in any condition.