doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lefever 10 gauge chamber length

Lefever experts,
Just wondering if Lefever chambered 10 gauge at 2 5/8"?
Saw one at a local gun show and my gauge only went in to 2 5/8".
Is this normal?

I believe that Lefever like most quality gun-makers of that era would chamber a gun to any length desired. Many early 10 gauge guns of the era were made comparatively light weight for use as field guns. I have little doubt that many of these were chambered for the 2 5/8" shell, which was a standard chambering. On the other hand my only 10 gauge Lefever is a 10 lb early gun, no doubt made for waterfowl use & it has 3" chambers. Never to my knowledge a "Standard" chambering, though shells could be special ordered in this length up until around WWI.

Another thing to be aware of is chambers were not as standardized in those days as today & many will run a few thousandths of an inch undersize. As chambers have .04"-.005" taper per inch one can readily see if a chamber is just .001" smaller than the gauge then it will read 1/4" short.

The Lefever you looked at could very well have been chambered for 2 5/8" shells or it could just as well have had a 2 7/8" chamber which was just a bit undersize.

Thanks Miller.
I didn't go any further with checking out this gun after the initial once over and bore/chamber check.
Damascus barrels that had been hot blued, ball and socket that was out of adjustment which causes the barrels to rattle on the frame.
Guy thought it was made of gold because of its age and "high" condition.
Oh well.

Don't ever be concerned about a Lefever that rocks on the hinge. A turn of the "ball" that can't even be measured will tighten it up. Most Lefevers have never had their balls tightened.

Lefevers "Compensated" action is truly a marvelous invention!

I recently removed the ball screw (knuckle?) from a 20g Lefever. The thread pitch on it is 22 so then if you turn the ball 1/16th of a turn in...think N to NNE...that tightens up just under .003".

Well I went back and took a 2nd look. G grade, chambers are indeed 2 7/8".
The dealer who had it had several tables of synthetic stocked rifles and pistols. This was hiding in the middle of a rack of rifles
I explained the "difficulties" this old gun has such as short obsolete chambers, Damascus barrels and looseness in the lock up.
Walked out with it for $100

Good buy Matt. The Super 10 2 7/8 loads are available commercially from RST if you don't reload. Enjoy your new gun...Geo

Thanks George!
I do reload for 10, 12 and 16 gauge.
This is my second short 10. Also have a 1894 Remmy.
I haven't had a Lefever in more than 20 years so its nice to get one again.

I believe thye G grade was not introduced until the two hook guns were put on the market in 1890. I would suspect that most of the 2 5/8" chambers preceded that.

When you say "Looseness in the Lockup" are you speaking of bolting or the hinge. If in the bolting the wedge shape of the bolt is to compensate for this wear with the top lever going left. If the lever is all the way left & it is still loose in the bolting it will need a new bolt made.

"Do Not" try to compensate for bolt wear with the ball joint, it is strictly for compensating for hinge wear.