Lefever HE 16 ga

[Cold Spring]

Originally Posted by Gerald McPherson

Well I looked inside and now I think there is a lot going on that is not visible even with the side plates removed concerning ejectors. I have never owned but one Lefever and it was an a grade 16 ga or was it called Grade A many years ago. Anyway I have been researching this HE grade for several days and I am finding more info on this site than elsewhere. Here are some things I have learned. Built around 1903. 2 5/8 in chambers. .667 in. bore. Right barrel is cylinder left is improved cylinder.Min. wall right 45 thou. left 35 thou. 26 inch barrels. XX for small frame. Seems Lefever referred to these as Brush Guns. The quality used to produce these old guns is amazing.It is obvious this gun was very used through through the years. The checkering has held up extremely well and I understand the wood is English walnut. Any comments appreciated still looking for more info. My quail hunting buddy Roy for many many years used a Grade A 16 ga with open chokes. Another friend Pete after hunting with Roy one day was very upset He said Roy killed nine birds while he was trying to catch his dog. I sure miss those fellows. Gerald.

I was looking at a 16 bore XX Frame Lefever yesterday and its bores are both .668" and chambers exactly 2-9/16”. You might check your tubes at the muzzle to see if they touch, which Lefever disciples take as proof positive the barrels haven't been cut. Also, you might verify the chokes are tapered right out to the muzzles. Cylinder choke will have a few thou of constriction as per practice at that time, and IC perhaps 6-8 thou of constriction.

[Gerald McPherson]

Thank you Frank; The barrels do touch and the ic barrel has 8 thou restriction. It was measured by a local gunsmith rather quickly without his glasses. I have sent the barrels to Dean Harris for evaluation. I think Bruce Day posted a catalog page from Lefever that referred to this as a brush gun. Relying on bad memory. I find the Lefevers very interesting.

[Bruce Day]

Lefevers are high quality , well designed guns.

I urge you to get the catalog reproduction .

[frank aloia]

frank aloia

[Phil Yearout]

Maybe one of the mods or other folks a lot more knowledgeable than I could PM Frank and help him out? I think he has some things to say but there's an obvious disconnect somewhere ...

[Gerald McPherson]

One thing that seems strange is when the side plates are removed there is no case color on the inside of the plates as on the underside of the fore end.

[Nick de Guerre]

Gerald,

Dean Harris is the man. His word on the condition of yoir barrels is as good as it gets. Dont spend much on your gun, as H grades are very common.

But they are as well made as an Optimus! Dan Lefever made guns are uniform in build quality, regardless of grade.

As for the plates, I have never seen them case colored on the inside. Which does beg the question as to what his process was, as one would naturally have thought they'd have done it in parts.

Nudge

[Bruce Day]

It was not me that called it a brush gun nor have I seen a catalog state that. The closest is that the catalog states that Lefevers cannot be equaled for “trap, field , brush and wild- fowl shooting.” P. 3.

Enjoy yours. The more you look , the more interesting they become and Lefever shooting qualities are special. Few 16’s of any grade were made . Bob Noble and Josh Lowensteiner here are true Lefever experts . I know some but they know more.

[Gerald McPherson]

Brush chokes on a Lefever catalog page cyl /imp cyl. Bruce I think you posted a catalog page that stated for brush. I can't find it again.

[Nick de Guerre]

Bruce,

Lefever made more 16's than 10's. They are uncommon, but not rare.

The difference is that most 16's were later guns, long after Dan was gone. And by then, few high grade guns in ANY caliber were made.

So while 16's as a gauge are not rare, 16's in ANY grade higher than G grade, are.

Most 10's were made in Dan's time, and all grades are well represented (sans later grades).

NDG