doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Customized Lefevers

It seems like it is very popular to upgrade Sterlys (as seen on this very forum) and low grade Parkers into customized firearms. I have also seen a few LC Smith upgrades. That said, I can't say I have seen any Lefever upgrades. I have heard of people trying to fake an Optimus, but what about using a Lefever as a platform for something else? Have you seen any? Anyone have any pictures? How well were internals of the lower grade Lefever's finished?

I have never seen a "full" custom Lefever. The most "custom" you are going to encounter would probably be restocks. My theory as to why there arent many custom Lefevers would be overrall rarity. From the guns I've had apart (grades C thru DS), they all had the same amount of internal fit and finish regardless of grade.

Internals of a FE


Internals of a DS

Just got back from Partridge hunting in Saskatchewan, so am "foggy" on Lefevers , but it looks to me that your sear spring is upside down. Shot a nice HE 20 ga for huns and sharpies, but have not taken the gun apart to look. Of course, I could be wrong.

Daryl, I know this is a bit off topic but how was the bird life? I canceled my usual trip this week for the southwest part of the province because of the heavy rainfall and poor reports earlier in the summer. Hopefully it wasn't as bad as I have been fearing.

Daryl, the sear springs are upside down. My sears have a definite mark where the forward end rode and where the bend fit into the little crook on the aft end.

Good eye Daryl, they "were" indeed upside down. Foo-pa on my part when re-assembling the guns, took approx two seconds to put the springs in the correct position...funny thing...trigger pulls didnt change with the springs in the "in-correct" position.

Anyways...as you can see, the internal finish isnt much different if at all. When you open up your HE Daryl, the finish work on the internals will look just like these two, guaranteed. reb87 and I took apart his H, a couple G's & GE's, DS and CE and it was just like the two pictured here.

Dustin

I know of a full custom under construction which is getting carved fences, stepped locks etc, but will NOT look like a high grade factory gun.

I own a 20 with custom wood and engraving and a second set of European made barrels, but no significant modifications to metal contours. It was originally an H. It does not approach the quality of the higher grade factory guns.

There are at least 5 fake Optimus Lefevers out there. Out of a projected 125 made we only know of about 45 genuine Optimus grade guns. There are genuine Optimus guns out there. However, the fakes have outnumbered the "real" ones out there on the market recently. An Optimus was sold on auction this weekend. However, we don't know anything about it's authenticity.

Maybe Lefevers are a bit old for customizing. The typical Lefever you run accross will be a couple decades older than a typical sterly, and many of the Lefevers will sport damascus/twist/laminated barrels. Sterlys have fluid steel barrels.

Probably most custom guns are made for the paticular fancies and desires of the owner, and only a few to fake a higher grade. Right or wrong, the fluid steel barrels will appeal to more owners. It is easier to find spare parts for a sterly which is also appealing.

And the Lefever design is unique and intersting in its own right. Nothing unique about a sterly or trojan.

I know of a set of four being highly customized to match. High grade wood, very nice engraving on re-shaped frames, re-struck barrels, etc. And yes, one each 12, 16, 20, and .410.

sv