Chuck there are hundreds, if not thousands, of nice E grades for you to find. It seems like they must have made 10,000 of the E grades and I suspect that 90% of them are still in decent shape. Far fewer Lefevers turn up as beaters and parts gun than any other makers gun seem to in my travels. I can find you 50 LC Smith or Fox beaters for every Lefever beater. Either the design is less prone to beater status or the Lefever owners just took better care of them.
The few E grades that I have taken out of circulation are not a factor in your quest. I have decided to put a stop on my collection when it reaches two dozen total Lefevers anyways. Closer to that number than I want to be. Might have to sell a few project Lefevers if I can find others that I want more than them. The early pivot style with all the adjustments are extremely interesting to me, but the engraving on the later guns is also better than the early guns. So many choices and so few holes in the gun room.
But my one 20 E grade might be a little harder for you to find. In ten years of watching it is only the third that I have held. Five pounds six and one half ounces of Lefever magic. Perfection as far as I am concerned. I have come to the conclusion that Lefever never would have built a 28 because his 20s already feels like a 28 and are far more versatile. It is about 1" too short but I might have to have a leather covered pad put on it to make it easier to shoot. It is too nice for one of those strap on pads.
That one and my Winchester Model 12 28 gauge, my first real gun, will be tucked into my coffin when I go. Might see some nice coveys in the happy hunting grounds. NO-tox shot is barred there you know. Lead forever.
