doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lefefer ?'s (Early E)

Hello all,

I have recently looked at a Lefever Arms Co. 10 gauge E grade SN 10446.

This gun is much earlier than any I have ever seen, and is quite different in many respects.

Could any of you provide photos of a gun of similar age?

Could any of you confirm that a gun of this age shold have these attributes which I have never seen on a Lefever:

1) cloverleaf shaped toplever.
2) bushed firing pins.
3) ebony wedge at forend tip.
4) two holes (like firing pin busing) rather than slot to adjust hinge ball.
5) Grooved hor but plate.

Yes, I know, I really need to buy the book.

Thanks

Mark

I once owned LeFever #10332. If am am correct, the opening lever on this E is better described as a side-pivot opener as opposed to a "clover leaf"; but this device was replaced soon afterwards with a standard pivot opener. Examples in this serial number range seem to represent a transition period for LeFever guns, and a wide variety of features can be found between examples within this serial number range that will not be seen in later guns. This E Grade most likely has cocking rods as opposed to cocking hooks; and yes, the ball joint on these early models is adjusted by a spanner wrench as opposed to a screwdriver used with later slotted ball joint guns. My gun had a horn tip inlay, a horn grip cap, and a horn buttplate; but I honestly can't recall whether the firing pins were bushed or not. Again, LeFever guns within and around the 10xxx serial number range can be found with all sorts of features, which I believe had a lot to do with the fact that frames were not used consecutively. For instance, you will occassionally find an example with a thumb(push-type) opener in this number range as opposed to a top lever opener; and I've even seen one very early example with a large cocking hook and in-frame ejectors. This is the kind of stuff that makes Lefevers so much fun and so interesting to collect.

Mark;
I have a 10ga E grade SN 10515. It has the side pivot opener & is I suspect what you describe as clover leaf, though there are variations I beleive on the shape of a side pivot lever. This gun also has the bushed firing pins, the spanner type ball screw & is a cocking rod gun. The thumb screw & pivot opener guns had a vertical bolt which entered the rib extension slot from the rear. The center pivot top levers had the bolt as an extension of the lever which entered the slot from the side. These early guns had the extractor cam in the forend & the Ball Screw had a concave end for the cam to fit in, thus the spanner holes. The extractor cam was removed from the forend about the time of the small single cocking hook guns. The two hook guns I have seen have all had the forend cam & the spanner ball screw. As Topgun has said though this was a period of transition & never be surprised if you find one which doesn't fit the "General" descriptions. My E incidently has only scroll engraving, no dogs or game. What type does yours have? It also has several "Compensation" features not present on later guns.

I have a 10 gauge, C grade, cocking rod gun, SN 9,645 that has all the characteristics you mention, Mark, except mine no longer has the original butt plate. Mine has 32" Bernard pattern Damascus barrels and is a featherweight 10 pounder. My duck & goose gun of choice. Is this your first Lefever? Watch out. They're addictive. If you want to join the Lefever Collectors Association, let me know. I can send you the details. Rich (RichardBrewster@nyc.rr.com)

Thank you gentlemen.

Very timely replies, and full of new info.

Topgun;
- it is "a" side-pivot lever, but I have never seen such a convoluted shape on one before.
- it does have cocking rods as opposed to cocking hooks.

2-piper;
- this E has only scroll engraving also.
- as well as the "Compensation" features not on later guns.

Richard;
- It's not mine (yet), I was just intrigued by several of its features.
- I currently have two other lefevers, a 16 gauge "G" with straight grip c1902, and a "HE" 12 c1906.

Thanks again

Mark

I have a F grade in almost the same Serial number that is as you describe with the bushed firing pins. Minw was quite worn and at first I thought that bushed firing pins were a later add on but have since concluded that they most likely were original. The engraving is sparse but the stock wood is very nice. Lefevers come ia all kinds of combos and you never should be suprised by what you come across. I sure never do.

Unfortunately, Elliott has not pictured this variety of E Grade Lefever in either of his books. However, for those who have only heard verbal descriptions of 10,000 range E Grades, look in the March/April 2004 Shooting Sportsman where my grandfather's E Grade Pigeon Gun #10,130 is pictured on page 51. It will also be a good opportunity to reread Rick Pratt's great article on pigeon guns.

Thanks Eightbore,

Is anyone able to scan or otherwise share this article?

Mark