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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 390 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 390 Likes: 2 |
What ever happened to the Lefever reproduction project? If I remember correctly, Ken Hurst was at the forefront of this.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,941 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,941 Likes: 19 |
It never got off the ground!
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,002
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,002 |
If I was ever going to spend money on a reproduction, it would have been one of those. This was an idea that needed to take off about five years earlier than it did. The economy and market turned, and I fear our wait will now be a very long one. TT
"The very acme of duck shooting is a big 10, taking ducks in pass shooting only." - Charles Askins
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,941 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,941 Likes: 19 |
Well said.It would have been a great gun to own.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 282
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 282 |
Why not just buy a Lefever with a solid action, have the barrels lined and have it re-stocked. You could bring it in for about the price of a reproduction. (Given that a Parker repro is going for about $3500, I'd expect a new production Lefever to run about $7500).
Last edited by danross70; 06/21/11 10:08 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 580
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 580 |
I believe the original project was going to be an Optimus or AA grade level quality gun. Given that we only know of about 50 Optimus and 20 AA guns the reproduction would have given a number of us a chance to tote something along this level out to the field.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 282
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 282 |
DrBob, a repro of such a high grade gun would probably have to cost at least $20K, maybe more. Honestly, in this economy, with competition from Spanish sidelocks and Galazan Foxes, I doubt that the market to support the venture is there. I admire the genius of Daniel Lefever and his designs, but there are other good designs as well. Just too expensive to build the gun you have in mind.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 580
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 580 |
Dan, Thats probably why the project died in the planning stages. With all of the old guns, the mystique is in the creation of a product given the knowledge, technology,and inginuity of the time. Yes, we have the technology to recreate a Lefever, Parker, or what have you, at a fairly great expense. Compare that with a Galazan product produced in America today. I think Tony has almost single handidly kept America competitive in the high end doubles. Yes, there are Europeans that maybe beat those,but I prefer American Guns and prefer to spend my money in the USA. I appoligize to our European friends,but thats the way it is.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,572 Likes: 165
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,572 Likes: 165 |
I believe Steve Lamboy also had in mind the idea of resurrecting the Lefever, if Ithaca Classic Doubles had managed to stay afloat.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 999
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 999 |
I believe Steve Lamboy also had in mind the idea of resurrecting the Lefever, if Ithaca Classic Doubles had managed to stay afloat. I remember when Lamboy was discussing this subject on Double Gun many years ago. I asked if he thought there would be a market for an H grade in 16ga. Never got a reply but I now understand the astronomical cost of producing such a gun and realise how thin the market would. I also realise if he had made it, I couldn't afford it. Still, nice to dream.
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