A Few Doubles

[JLoew]

More photos forthcoming.

[Mike Franzen]

Just wondering what the term "fully compensated" means. I assume it means all factory options but not sure. Thank you.

[George Lang]

Mike, "fully compensated" means the gun has all the features that allow you to take up wear and or make adjustments to the gun.

[Bruce Day]

Lefever used the terms "fully compensated" to include:

Forend adjustment slide
Main hinge adjustment ball screw
Trigger sear adjustment screws
Safety auto/manual


They all had the hinge ball screw but E grades and above had the others as standard features. I understand all Lefevers above the lowest grades DS, H or I were built on customer order so the adjustment features could be ordered in grades that would not normally have them.

Other features such as the lever rotary bolt were compensating by design and included on all lefevers but are not adjustable by the owner. They compensate for wear, either automatically or by adjustment, allow the shooter to control trigger sear engagement, or change between safety automatic or manual for field or match uses.

[Researcher]

Other features such as the lever rotary bolt were compensating by design and included on all lefevers but are not adjustable by the owner.

I've never seen a Lefever with a rotary bolt.

[Bruce Day]

Really? Need a photo?

[Researcher]

I'd like to see a picture of a Lefever with a rotary bolt.

All the Lefever Arms Co. doubles I've seen were bolted by a wedge into a notch in the dollshead rib extention. Part C in this diagram --



L.C. Smith, Philadelphia Arms Co., A.H. Fox Gun Co., some J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. doubles and NID model Ithacas are the guns I know of using the rotary bolt.

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

I've never seen a Lefever with a rotary bolt.

Dave , my apologies. I apparently used the wrong terminology.

Below I have posted several photographs showing the bolt/ rib extension interface. Looking at the Lefever catalog drawings , which I have and you posted, it is easy to assume that the locking bolt moves longitudinally and engaged a bite or notch in the rib extension , like a Parker. I certainly do not claim to have seen all Lefevers and I admit to having closely studied less than 15 or 20. Of those , none have a bolt that simply moves longitudinally. I used the term "rotate" to describe the movement and perhaps that was in error.

The below series of photos show the bolt/bite interface . We will start with the rib extension. Note that it is angled . The angle of 15 degrees in combination with the bolt provides self compensation.

[Bruce Day]

Next I show the action with the opening lever in the straight back position and the bolt fully extended. This is the bolt that swings into the angled slot when the barrels are attached.

[Bruce Day]

Next I show the lever pushed to the right and the bolt start to swing to the left as it would start to disengage from the slot upon opening