doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lefever single selective trigger

Can anyone tell me if Lefever had a single selective trigger or is this an after market trigger?

Yes, single triggers were optional on later production Lefever double guns; and Dan Lefever also offer single triggers on his DM Lefever boxlock models. That looks like a real nice high-grade Lefever there. As to the Lefever single trigger itself, I've heard they can be problematic; but am not a gunsmith, and therefore cannot speak to those alledged issues. The only Lefever single trigger gun I've owned was on a DM Lefever; which trigger worked great more the most part, only doubling on one ocassion. The biggest problem with that DM Lefever gun was the auto ejector mechanism, which never worked properly; but the in-frame ejector mechanism on side plate models as pictured above are extremely reliable.

Thank you, topgun, for the information. This gun was made in 1893 I believe it might have been sent back to the factory and had this trigger installed, however I am not sure. Also, the gun has inframe ejectors in it. If you have any other information regarding triggers on the Lefever guns please let me know. Do you happen to know if Lefever installed single select triggers after the guns were built and left the factory?

When you say early, what is the serial number? Lefever Arms was notorious for not building guns in numerical sequence; so finding low serial numbers with later features and vice versa is not uncommon. I suggest you post additional pics to help make a period determination (be sure to show the cocking mechanism); but to answer your question, I'm sure Lefever would have installed a single trigger in an earlier gun on customer request, as it seems there was little that company couldn't do in the way of custom work.

Topgun the serial number is 17773

Egerton,

Have you bought this gun? It was seen by some of the members of LACA at the Vintage Cup two years ago, who passed along many photos of it to me. If you would like to get in touch with me, you can reach me at RichardBrewster1@verizon.net.

Rich

Obviously this gun has been around; and hopefully Richard can shed a bit more light. As regards your question about it's single trigger; this gun has all the later features such as large cocking hook and late style top fastener that would be consistent with Lefever guns seen with a single trigger, and the in-frame ejectors certainly look to be factory original work. Several years ago I saw a very similar AA Grade Lefever in Charlotte, NC; and as I recall it's number was also in the 17XXX range. I don't remember if that Lefever had a single trigger, but the engraving on that gun was very similar to your example.

I have one single trigger Lefever. It dates slightly later than your gun. After four years and maybe a thousand total shells it still functions perfectly. I figure the first four or five owners had ample chances to get all the bugs out of the gun. If it has worked for a hundred years why expect failure now? Lefever was well ahead of his time and his guns are a constant marvel to me.

According to Bob Elliot's estimated Chronology of the Lefever gun the Single trigger was first offered about 1898 @ SN arond 27K, the large hook in 1899 @ SN around 28K.
1913 LAC catalog;
Pg 6; "Guns built since 1890, fitted with old-style cocking-hook & bar, will be remolded at our factory, with the new cocking-hook for $5.00."
Pg 31; "Our Single Trigger can be fitted to any Lefever Gun of any gauge now in use. Price $25.00 Net."
If one has a Lefever of lower SN with later features I "Really, Truly" have no idea how it could be determined if it had laid in the shop for a number of years or had been returned for an up-grade. I think when a new barrel was fitted they stamped a new SN, but don't know if this applied to other up-grades as well or not.
My only Single trigger Lefever is SN'd at over 73K & wears an Infallible SST. I feel there is a strong possibility of it having been fit at the Ithaca plant at time of build.

I think the fact that there are no factory records to answer the poster's question definitively is what keeps us so interested in Lefevers in general. That, and the fact that they are wonderful guns. In my opinion, the best American gun ever made.

As an aside, I was fiddling with mine the other day, tightening down the adjustment screw a pinch to get rid of a tiny bit of play, and all I could think was "why on earth has no one else duplicated this cocking hook/adjustment screw design from a mass production standpoint, or even come close to it"? It defies logic in my opinion.