Could we establish measuring points and develop a chart of dimensions ? I would be happy to contribute, but am not qualified to make the chart. Maybe Mr. Noble would be able to do it.
This is a great idea, but probably much easier said than done. I recall a thread where the single measurement being taken was distance between centers of firing pins. Some folks were eye-balling it with rulers and tape measures while others were getting a more precise center to center distance by measuring from the edge of one firing pin hole to the same edge of the other with digital verniers. We saw an example of problems with measuring a couple weeks ago when old colonel bought a Model 21 Winchester, and the seller was off on the barrel length by 3/8". Anybody who has bought used barrels from e-bay or Gunbroker knows that getting accurate measurements for breech width, etc., is like pulling teeth from a pit bull.
I like your idea of weighing actions, but that is something that can't be done without removing the butt stock. Even the early serial number lists that were published in the LACA Newsletter weren't all that informative because of how incomplete many of the descriptions were for guns that were submitted.
I'm pretty well convinced that there are indeed significant differences in Lefever frame sizes just based upon my very limited measurements and comparisons. I need to get around to checking several other guns to confirm this absolutely, but I'd be very shocked if the frame of my heaviest 10 ga. Lefever wasn't heavier and larger dimensionally than my lightest XX frame small bore guns.
