doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Side Lever SXS for a lefty

First please understand that I've never owned or even handled a Sidelever shotgun. So as a lefty I'm surprised that the lever is on the right side. I would think I would prefer to use my left thumb on a right side toplever to open a gun. I think it would be awkward on the left side. But all the Sidelever guns I have seen, presumably for right handed shooters, have the lever on the right. Please explain.

Also true of side lever rifles (eg, Hepburns, Wessons, Frasers, rolling block conversions, etc). Were it on the left, a righty would have to slide across the wrist to push it down far enough.

Actually works quite well that way and many shooters never put their thumb across the wrist anyway.

As a right handed shooter, I think it would feel more natural to move my hand from the grip to operate the sidelever on the right side, while controlling the opening of the barrels with my left hand, which remains on the forend.

This would also prevent wear and damage to vintage doubles that do not have adequate joint checks. We have all seen that picture of the Fox shotgun with the cracked frame that the Preacher has posted here about a thousand times to demonstrate that they are prone to breaking. In reality, this isn't happening due to firing the gun. Dewey Vicknair has explained that this frame cracking happens when the barrels are permitted to drop fully open, and the hammers stop abruptly when they strike the inside of the action flat. In short, it's a matter of abuse by a careless shooter that causes Fox frames to crack.

There is also a discussion point about placing three position M70 type safeties on the right side of left handed rifles. As a fellow lefty hand shooter, I am not too certain about this idea, being used to the safety on the left side.

I had a Greener FH35 that had the safety on the left side (the usual place) and found it a bit difficult to operate. I may be convinced either way.

YMMV.

There are left-side side levers. On this site one gentleman opined that the right-side side lever was easier for a shooter. . .the left-side for a loader. Probably it was just the choice of the person who ordered it. I will say my side-lever Reilly is really easy to break and load. I would imagine that you would want that lever pointed away from your face though.

This Reilly was owned by Terry Buffum; SN 17392 (1871):
https://www.amoskeagauction.com/110/132.php

Gene, that gun is gorgeous! Wow.
I recently bought my 4th sidelever. Two have been on the left and two on the right. As a right handed shooter I find it most natural to operate the left-sided levers.

My W&E has left sidelever and yes, it is the most natural to operate for right handed hunters and shooters.

Boss have recently introduced a side lever over and under which they sell with a pair of interchangeable side levers so that the purchaser’s child or grandchild can decide which suits them best.

Slightly off topic, at a Christie’s auction view many years ago I picked up an English SXS gun that had been built as a true left hander with the top lever rotated clockwise to open the gun. I nearly dislocated my thumb trying to open it the usual way before the penny dropped.

Helpful with contributions from Toby Barclay
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=530422
https://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=532743

The interchangeable Boss
https://shootingsportsman.com/a-new-boss-over-under/


Maybe Bro. Enos was a lefty



https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...r-double-hammer-gun.cfm?gun_id=101135737

Not much from Greener
The Gun and Its Development: With Notes on Shooting, 1885 he shared the opinion that the lever on the R was easier for a R handed shooter

Modern Shotguns, 1891 "the lever can be on either side" but did not elaborate