doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lefever 16ga - two barrel set- damascus and steel?

My GE grade is a straight stock as well. In looking at the pictures, the stock on your gun is identical to mine, all the way down to the checkering and short tang. Other than the sideplates, and I agree it looks like an H grade, our two guns are identical. Could it just be possible that these guns were factory straight stocks. They are just too identical to be a coincidence. One thing I have learned about Lefevers is to expect the unexpected.

Nice gun.

What do you mean by short tang? Does your gun have a short triggerguard?

From the little I can see in these pics, the nose on the stock of this is less pronounced than the nose on the stock of the first one. The stock on the first one seems to have a nose that's more pronounced than any others orginal Lefever stocks I've seen.


Thanks

OWD

Lefevers were available from the factory with straight grip stocks. "Normally" however they had a long trigger guard tang. When you say your stock is identical to the one in question does this also include the short tang, this doesn't show in your pics. There is of course always the possibility of a "Re-Work" in which the pistol grip was cut off, guard tang straightened & checkering sanded off & re-cut, utilizing original wood. Nice looking GE incidentally, either way. I have a stright grip H, but know it is a re-stock, it had metal added by welding to make a long tang, but still enjoy shooting it.
PS; Went back & re-read your post & you said it had the short tang. Forget the question as is already answered. Can't really say for sure if Lefever ever made any straight grips with a short tang or not.

KY Jon is dead on. I've always been told barrel condition is the most important thing. If the barrels ring true and the bores are good, go from there. That's a nice straight-hand stock; ask him if the gun has been restocked. The wear on the pad (what I can see of it) is not as worn as I would have expected. The fluid steel barrel was probably added when conventional wisdom at the time said damascus was unsafe. Just my $.02.

It looks like the sideplates have line border engraving. If so, it looks like a later G grade to me. How could anyone let a gun go to rust like that? Assuming the stock is in decent shape, and the barrels aren't pitted too badly, a clean up wouldn't break the bank, and you would have a wonderful two barrel set. Or, you could just send it to me so you won't have to worry yourself about it

I would also add that it looks like a possible short tang re-stock. The forend looks much darker and older than the buttstock, which would explain the short tang also (probably just bent). Whoever did it should have done the forearm at the same time so they would match.

As first introduced the H had no engraving on the side plates, The G had line border engraving. At a later date both the G & H grades had added scroll work on the plates, though I do not know the date of this or if both were up-graded at same time. I believe though was sometime in the 50K SN range. I have a two-hook G in 20,xxx range & a large hook in 29,xxx range & both have only the line engraving. H's in 4x,xxx range all are unengraved, while those in 6x,xxx range all have the scroll. I have none in a 5x,xxx range.

The woods on mine match. Though it does have a short trigger guard. the woods also show about the same wear. Has a script style butt plate.

I'd guess H grade also.
I just sold a H 16ga and have a GE in same # range and the G's usually have some engraving on the bottom and top of the frame as well as the sideplates. I have a 6x,xxx range straight grip gun with the long trigger guard tang. I guess there could be original straight gripped guns with the short tangs but I don't see why the factory would have sent them out that way. The wood sure is mismatched in condition and color.

I agree with KY maybe $1500 to $2000 if it is original and was all cleaned up with no barrel problems.The 16ga. Lefevers are great handling guns and fairly scarce.
Good luck,

Fritz

I am aware of H's with some side plate engraving (like Fritz's H, which was a beaut by the way), but I've not seen any H's with border engraving like this appears to have. Have any of you?