Quote:
with cosmetic sideplates like the Lefever;

One must note the sideplates on a Lefever are not just cosmetic. On early guns the sears & their springs do attach to the plates, making them a sort of Semi-Sidelock & on "All" models removal of the plates give access to the inner works. I would thus refer to them more as inspection covers than "Cosmetic Plates".

Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra