doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Syracuse Lefever 16 gauge barrels with proof marks

These pictures are of a 21,xxx serial 16 gauge Damascus barrel, F Grade, 30" long. I don't know whose proofs they are though.



Gratuitous shot of the damascus:



I just found out my birddog shredded the den and I have to go now.

Best,

Mike

Here you go brother

Crown over GL in an oval - George Laloux - common on Lefevers with serial numbers 2XXXX range.
Bee with G L on wings after about 1910
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20l/a%20laloux%20georges%20gb.htm

Wow Drew - that was fast, Thanks!

I am surprised that the proof marks didn't get struck off by Lefever when they put them together and finished them. The tubes must have come from Laloux at close to the final outside diameter, at least near the chambers.

Here is a link to my Photobucket site with pictures of the gun:
http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l274/AmarilloMike/Lefever16F/

Thanks again,

Mike

Small matter, but this is not really a "Proof" mark, but a maker's mark or Logo.
A proof mark is an official mark applied by the proof house showing it has passed some form of proof test. This mark simply tells who made the bbl tubes.
Couple of unusual features often seen on guns of this era; Seems most guns from both earlier & later do not have the small upper pin to guide the extractor, but use the rib extension instead. Also many along this time frame have the hammer axles turned to a smaller dia at each end & protrude through the side plates. Have not looked at your pics yet, does it have this feature?

Thanks Miller, I had just assumed it was like the tube proof the English did before they made the tubes into barrel sets.

Best,

Mike

Don't want to ask too much as a lurker/learner, but could you report back on the damage inflicted by the dog? Having been cleaning up MUCH dog barf recently, misery loves company.

Jeff

Jeff at first, from the blood curdling scream and scolding, I assumed it was the new couch, actually turned out to be just a box of Kleenex shredded on top of the new pillows that came with the couch.

Best,

Mike

AMike,

Congratulations! It's sort of like being let off from a speeding ticket by a trooper in a benevolent state of mine... sometimes you just get lucky.

Jeff

(BTW, I am also very glad to be here. Sorry to hijack your thread.)

Mike,

The Laloux touch mark is more common than some think. It took a bit to make the connection, because many made the same assumption about it being a proof.

Here is the original thread from the Lefever forum about touch marks.
http://lefeverforum.informe.com/viewtopic.php?t=52&highlight=laloux

Observed touch marks on Lefevers:

ADH - Delvaux-Heuse, Belgium
GL - Georges Laloux, Belgium
LL - Leon Leclercq, Belgium
LLH - Laurent Lochet-Habran, Belgium
SB&Co Sanderson Bros. & Co., Sheffield, England
Three-lobed crown over a D, Didiere barrel works of St Etienne, France

Pete

Jean-Baptiste Delcour-Dupont (later Canons Delcour) of Nessonvaux also used the 'Crowned D'. His mark has been found on damascus and steel brl Smith and Fox guns, and may be a more likely source for the Lefever brls.



Sanderson Steel was started in England in 1776 http://www.sandersonsteel.com/200_years.htm
Sanderson Bros. Steel Co. started their 'Syracuse (N.Y.) Works' in 1886, and supplied Nitro and Crown fluid steel brls to Hunter Arms starting in 1895. Halcomb Steel Co. opened in 1905, and L.C. was on the Board of Directors. Halcomb supplied London steel for 0 grades and Royal steel for the hammer guns starting in 1907. Crucible Steel Co. bought Sanderson Bros in 1900, and Halcomb in 1911. Parker Peerless steel may have come from Crucible also.

'C' and 'S.B.&Co.'