LeFever ~ Lightweights?

[Christopher Lien]

Some of the LeFever 12-bore doubles I've had in my hands over the years have been a bit on the heavier side of the scales, stout frames, thick barrels, and sometimes a little nose heavy... Heavy is not a bad thing, but does anyone here have, or have seen what they would consider to be an unusually light 12ga Syracuse LeFever with purposely built slimmer features overall (perhaps special order?) that would place it in a lightweight 12-bore category?... Interested in all comments related to this topic. Thanks


Best, CSL
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[James Rhodenizer]

The lightest 12ga. I have is an E grade with 28" Damascus barrels at 7lbs 1oz.
The other 12ga. range from 7-8oz to 8lbs. Have a 16ga. with xx frame that goes 6-7oz. and a 20ga. that weighs 5-14oz. The steel barreled guns do have some thick tubes.

[Brian Dudley]

Absolutely. I have a 12g. DS that is a total lightweight. It is a 28" gun that weighs 6 lbs. 10oz. and that is with a silvers pad on it.

I have seen at least one 12g. that was on a XX frame in the past. But I do not have any details on it.

[George Lang]

I have a 12 ga I grade 28" steel barrels that weighs 6# 14 oz.

[Robert Brooks]

Years ago Keith Kearcher had an article in DGJ showing a lightweight Lefever that the barrel had a bulge because so thin. Bobby

[Frank Cronin]

Not a 12 bore but a 10 that I passed on due to a piece of wood missing on the "horn" of the stock up top that goes around the side plate / upper tang.

Early E grade with 30" barrels 7.5 oz . Gun was in the Mid West so it was probably just light enough for long walks used to hunt the fields and prairies but with a little bit more payload of lead with a short 10.

[Bill Murphy]

My ten gauge G grade 28" steel barrel gun weighs just over seven pounds. It is alone in its rarity, but a wonderful gun to carry in the grouse woods. My little Sauer steel barrel ten, 6 pounds, 4 ounces, is also a handy carry in the woods.

[Rich Anderson]

A 10ga in the grouse woods:shock::eek: What are you loading in it Bill ?

[Bob Decker]

All of the sub-7 pound Lefever sideplates I have are either 16 or 20 gauge or have cut barrels. That does not mean that there aren't any factory original sub-7 pound 12 gauge guns out there, just that they are not common. I too have "heard" of 12 gauge guns on "XX" frames, but do not own one.

[Josh Loewensteiner]

I am very familiar with a minty BE 12ga that weighs 6lbs 12oz. It has original 26" Krupp Steel barrels, heel and toe plates, straight stock, and double triggers. I will post photos as soon as I find them.

[Bill Murphy]

Rich, I use light RST loads in my light Sauer and Lefever. I load tens, but my loaders are on hold for awhile while I construct a new loading room.

[Rich Anderson]

I wish I'd have done my room a little different esp with the carpet, I'd have done a laminate or linoleum anything BUT carpet. I used three kitchen cabinets and a 12 ft counter top for the bench.

[Bill Murphy]

Carpet?

[Christopher Lien]

All of the sub-7 pound Lefever sideplates I have are either 16 or 20 gauge or have cut barrels. That does not mean that there aren't any factory original sub-7 pound 12 gauge guns out there, just that they are not common. I too have "heard" of 12 gauge guns on "XX" frames, but do not own one.

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When I originally posted the Lefever lightweight 12-bore question here a few months ago, I was curious to see if there were many Lefevers like the lighter GE 12 I've had for many years. Below are a couple photos, and there are many more images posted where I have recently listed this gun on the PGCA for-sale section.

Best, Chris
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[Brian Dudley]

Great wood on that gun!