It's a weird listing. This gun has odd characteristics, like an early frame, which would have gone with a rod or 2-hook cocker. But the barrels look like single hook cocking. Also, the trigger guard is of the later style than the one that would have come with that frame and forarm. So, as suggested by others, it might have been made out of sequence.
The oddest thing is, what are the 2 screws in the bottom of the frame even doing if it's a single cocking hook gun? I own, and have seen, many frames with "ghosts" of those two screw holes. I always assumed it was because of some part of Lefever's machining process that left a remnant of the older style that required 2 screws in the bottom. But this gun HAS the screws. This makes me think it was converted later, at the factory, rather than out of sequence. Spit-balling...
Anyway, even if it had some very unique combination of original factors, I still can't see $7k.
There is an E grade for sale on GB for well over a year, formerly owned by a well known, long time LACA member. The "buy it now" price is $8,700, and THAT gun is probably the nicest original condition E grade i have ever seen.
So... $7k for 2 grades lower...and non-original? To put it in perspective, for half that price you can get a G grade restored by THE Lefever guy.
Bachelder does fine work, for sure, but it's hard to even guess how he might have gotten so off track cost-wise with this gun.
- Nudge
