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Most Online1,344 Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114 |
Just my 2 cents worth- not meaning any discouragement- but I see a few possible "issues" if you wish to shoot it with appropriate low pressure loads: (1) elongation or "out of round" on the firing pin holes, and the left barrel firing pin is not centered- (2) pressure ring marks on the standing breech- also wear mark from the extractor bar-- (3) no visible 90% radius at the base of the standing breech- a radius is a gun engineers method moving stress away from critical locking surfaces--
The late Brad Bachelder was both a close friend and hunting pal, but a true master gunmaker/gunsmith-- His passing a little over a year ago left the gunworld without a craftsman par excellence-------
Buck Hamlin lives in Peavely MO- is an avid turkey hunter, stock car enthusiast, and also a master gunsmith, who specializes in L.C. Smiths and Lefevers-- Buck has worked on 3 of my 12 gauge L.C. Smiths over the past 12 years-- The other gent is right, you have o get him on the phone, as he does NOT use the Internet- very wise man indeed, it might seem-- RWTF
"The field is the touchstone of the man"..
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 184 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 184 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for the info RWTF. I will call Mr. Hamlin.
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 184 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 184 Likes: 1 |
I made up a couple 12ga blanks and test fired it. Both triggers and hammers work nicely and both blanks fired. The left primer hit is a little deeper than the right.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,184 Likes: 1162
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,184 Likes: 1162 |
The left primer hit is a little deeper than the right. That's typical. The left barrel didn't get shot nearly as much as the right, in most cases. Nice find. SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
I could be wrong on this, but my experience is that most of the very few shotguns built with "Stepped" chambers, were done so for use with paper shells, not Brass. Brass shells were thinner & used oversize wads, a stepped chamber would be undesirable for them. Most guns built specifically for use with brass shells had oversize bores but conventional comes. Several of my earlies Lefevers were so built.
R Marshall; Nice find indeed there. My very first double was a J Stevens Arms & Tool Co hammerless, though a good bit later than this one. Could have been as early as around 1907 I think but pre WWI for sure.
Miller/TN I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,275 Likes: 205
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,275 Likes: 205 |
I’m away from my files, but from memory the gun came in two grades. One marked Twist one the outside of the bar, and the other marked Damascus. Kind of an odd design, but very early. All I have seen had 1 , 2, or 3 digit serial numbers. I have shot my somewhat rattling one a few times and it was fun and without any issues.
Last edited by Daryl Hallquist; 03/22/19 12:03 AM.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 51
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 51 |
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FWIW, the "J. Stevens & Co - Chicopee Falls, Mass" logo was used only from 1864-1888.
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 184 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 184 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for the all the info!
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
This appears to be somewhat a matter of terminology misunderstanding. I would not call a gun with a Ľ" cone a stepped cone, just a short one. Some old guns have been encountered which had np Cone, just a step which is what I was referring to.
I fully realize we are talking here of guns built prior to the existence of SAAMI but after y were established the recommended a max cone angle, from the horizontal of 5°. With chamber & bore both of "Nominal" size this would give a cone length in a 12 gauge of .400". "IF" the bore were .020" oversize which is not uncommon for those older Waterfowlering guns built for use with brass shells the cone length would be reduced to just a few thousandths longer than Ľ". These measurements are not extremely Easy for most to take but with exact measurements of chamber end, bore diameter & either the angle of cone or cone length the other dimension is easy to calculate with a bit of Trig.
Miller/TN I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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