doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com "New manufactured" Lefever project

I think the best seller would be a 16 Syracuse Lefever sideplate on the XX frame with extractors & 28" bbls. If we know the cost of the assembled & fitted bbls (in the white or blued) and the receiver before engraving, then I guess everyone could approximate the cost of doing it the way they want. I'd be inclined to F grade engraving. I'd be more than happy to run a piece on this in the Lefever Arms Collectors Association newsletter, when you get the project a little farther along, i.e. with ballpark prices for the barreled frames. Good luck on this. Rich

DoubleGunners,
Many may not know that Ken has posted additional information over on The Lefever Forum too, and it might be worth a look.

http://lefeverforum.informe.com/index.php?sid=0674c89e12aaba0c39927faf92ac51c9

Double Gun Regards

I'd be very interested in building up one of these so long as it's a sideplated gun. A while back I was thinking about having an engraving project done on a Spanish gun but I think this sounds a bit more interesting. I'm guessing SN #1 is taken, but I'd like SN 7 or 8 if it's not spoken for.

Personally, I'd rather have the options of 30" and 28" over 26", and I'd rather have a larger bore than smaller. I'd greatly prefer 12 over 16/20. Depending on cost I might consider a set of guns (12, 20) if the decision was made to go with the larger action.

On the Lefever forum it's mentioned that there's a possibility of rifle barrels. I'm already drooling.

Ken,

Do you plan to reproduce the stepped side plate action found on the B and up grades, and, if so, will the barrels carry the "bat wing" found on original C and up? I agree with the several posters that 30 inch barrels will be more saleable than 26. I also agree that fewer options early on will increase the chance of financial success. I suggest 20 only initially, then 16 to follow. Personally, I've thought about making a 28 from a DS 20, but don't think the 28 is the main road to commercial (even limited scale) success.

I have studied Steve Earle's Wesson actions, and they are of the finest craftsmanship! I believe he still makes them in 25 unit batches, so we are talking about VERY limited production!

Great project. I will certainly buy one. Good luck!

Terry

Here's a shout from the wilderness. Keep with the 26" barrels. Anyone else out there prefer this length? Randy

I explained in an earlier post how the manufacturing list could be limited to two longer barrel lengths with the option of a third shorter option. It was done by A.H.Fox and I think it was done by Hunter Arms Company also.

Short tubes would be what I prefer, but you can not please everyone.

Ken we had discussed a 3 gun Labrador bulino engraving project... with the possibility of getting it done on a new in the white American made gun... well now we are talking!

Ken:


This is a great undertaking. I think there has to be a mechanism for gun buyers like myself to have an entity shepherd the process through the "guild" of craftsmen. I have no problem paying each craftsman in advance as the work progresses but I would feel more secure with someone expediting things along the track to completion. I know that sky's the limit when it comes to customization but there needs to be someplace for the buyer to ballpark the finished product in a couple of basic grades. As to price, in my view a $7,000 to $10,000 would be a salable range for a sub gage with an extra bbl.

Al

Yes, I would prefer the 26" length, too. Cast my vote for availabity of the 16 on the XX frame. My normal companion Lefever is currently a 16 with 26" tubes.

What a great project!

Ken
I am a first time poster- have an RBL on order -would be very interested in one of these- price is some object.