LeFever ~ Lightweights?

[CSL]

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 Brad 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.

[B. 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

[StubTwist]

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.

[C.O.B.]

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

[Dr Bob]

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.

[JLoew]

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.