doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lefever that caught my eye....

Are the barrels supposed to have two different serial numbers on them?

Best,
Ted

Ted, there are a number of original Lefevers that have two different serial numbers on the barrels. The thinking is that the second non-matching serial number indicates that the gun was returned to the factory for additional work such as addition of automatic ejectors, replacing a damaged barrel, etc. This practice is estimated to have eaten up about 5000 serial numbers, but no one knows for certain.

I have never seen a Lefever with a screw right through the middle of the serial number on the trigger guard tang. And I agree with Bobby about the trigger plate screw. I would expect to see an engraved screw head on a C grade. The fine Damascus doesn't look as fine as that found on a lot of lower grade guns either, but I wouldn't go out on a limb and say they are not original to the gun. Same with the chokes, but most are choked quite a bit tighter. I did contact this seller about personally inspecting a gun a few years ago since she is less than two hours away from me, but I was told that was not possible. I note that the inspection/return policy is unspecified too, but before I bid on anything with a $6500.00 starting bid, I'd be asking lots of questions.

Very interesting. Note that the second serial number on the barrels is lower than the frame number. That doesn't make sense to me as I would expect it to be higher if returned for repairs or alteration after it left the factory.
Instead I would propose this is a second set of barrels that were fitted to the gun, perhaps at the time of purchase. See the upcoming newsletter (it went to press yesterday) concerning a C grade two barrel set of almost identical serial numbers.
Marks 21 is correct about last year's Las Vegas fiasco.

I would not be suspect of this gun as a whole at all, but then again I'm not spending 6500 for it.
The thing I see that is most unique is a C grade with single animal motifs. "Most" have double dogs and double ducks on guard.

Clearly two screws are incorrect and possibly the buttplate has replaced a cut stock and old recoil pad but nothing else looks out of whack to me.

I have good photos of the following comparisons should anyone want to see them.
35000 CE. Much less ornate than subject. Same barrel markings same quality damascus.
38000 CE. Much more ornate than subject "Lefever Arms Co Krupp Fluid Steel" fine print on both barrels
39000 CE. Lateral move on ornamentation. Less on sideplates, more on bottom. Same barrels and marking as subject gun.

DrBob, please explain how this seller is related to the "Las Vegas Fiasco". Please also explain whether or not the "Las Vegas Fiasco" resulted in a bad gun being sold to an unsuspecting buyer for a wrong price.

Marks 21 point was that the two are not related. They are not. I know nothing of the current seller. The Las Vegas event involved a legitimate gun which was sold via an internet transaction, but not delivered and was being shopped around for sale after the original payment had be accepted.
My point is that the barrels are either replacements or part of a factory issue 2 barrel set and the second serial number, being earlier than the original, is unlikely to be the result of a return for repair or alteration.

The barrels are a very nice 4 Iron similar to those I've seen on an Optimus, AA, A, and a B



More examples here
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/18020839

DrBob, I would agree that this is probably an example of a gun that may have originally had two sets of barrels. In this C grade, the barrel serial number that matches the frame and forearm iron is on the right barrel. Normally, the matching barrel number is on the left barrel and the second, normally higher number is on the right barrel. Since the numbers are only 34 numbers apart, it seems possible that a second set was taken from production and used to provide a customer with a second barrel set. It would be interesting to keep track of the second number and see if a complete gun ever turns up with that number. If a barrels set was numbered 38794 and then used on 38828, it seems likely that there was a matching frame already in production. I'm sure you recall the Optimus and G grade that turned up several years ago with identical serial numbers, so stranger things have happened.

Two FE Grade Foxes turned up within days of one another several years back. Oh, well. On another subject, if I were Sally, I would be on you jerks like stink on shit for hooking me up with the Las Vegas Fiasco, with which I am very familiar and Sally had nothing to do with. Why don't you delete all of your posts and start over discussing this gun.

I know the seller very well. He is a customer of mine and very stand up guy. Retired LEO. Extremely knowledgeable and honest as the day is long. I have seen this gun and in person it is really nice. I wish I could afford it myself. Sally is his wifes name.