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Lever 10 Gauge Shotgun - Many Questions

Blazin BillBlazin Bill Member Posts: 3 ✭
edited March 2008 in Ask the Experts
A friend of mine has a double barrel 10 gauge LeFever shotgun. It's serial # 11XXX, and all numbers match. It has a 28 inch Damascus steel barrel with double beads. The muzzle end of the barrels measure 0.745/0.750" ID, left and right respectively. The finish on the entire gun is worn off, but the steel looks decent. It's all original except for the buttplate. There's engraving all over the gun: on the right side of the receiver is a dog, on the underside is a duck, on the left side is a dog, and on the triggerguard is a dog with a bird in its mouth. There's scroll style engraving along all the edges of the receiver. The wood is finely checkered, but the checkering is worn from use. The rib on the barrel has a very interesting design that I am unsure how to explain, but it's beyond serrations. The action closes fairly tight, not solid bank vault tight, but tighter than some guns I've seen fired. The back trigger and safety do not work. He said the previous owner shot it regularly with modern high brass 10 gauge shells.

He's trying to figure out what to do with this beauty and has a few questions:
1) What Grade is this gun?
2) What is it worth?
3) Where could he find an original buttplate?
4) Is the problem with the trigger/safety a standard failure for LeFever's and if so what is the cause?
5) Where could he find the parts to fix the trigger/safety?
6) What types of ammunition would be safe to shoot through this gun?

[img]C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\Bill\Gun Stuff\LeFever\Lt Side.jpg[/img]
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Comments

  • duckhunterduckhunter Member Posts: 7,687 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    DO NOT SHOOT THIS GUN>
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  • ruger41ruger41 Member Posts: 14,665 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bill there are about 21 different grades of that shotgun with production ceasing in 1948. www.e-gunparts.com (numrich) does list some items still for your shotgun. Unless you know the grade of the shotgun placing a value is tricky-especially without lots of pics. Some models even in just 10% condition are worth $5000 while some were worth $350(per a SP Fjestad Gun Blue Book) Personally I would not shoot this gun until a competent gunsmith had inspected it and fixed the safety problem--many Lefevers were made during the black powder age and if they are damascus steel barrels I would not shoot high powered loads in it. Ithaca bought them out in 1916. There should be a letter before and after the serial number that might give an indication of the Grade.
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  • ithaca4meithaca4me Member Posts: 538 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I believe it sounds like a Lefever Optimus. Just google it and see if it looks the same. Pretty expensive if it is.
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  • Wolf.Wolf. Member Posts: 2,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    --
    Depending on how many "hi-brass 10 gauge shells" the other guy fired in this gun, it may be ready to blow up and take somebody's fingers and eyes with it.

    I would advise you and your friend to NOT FIRE THIS SHOTGUN until it has been examined by a competent gunsmith and the gunmetal has undergone a medical examination (i.e. magnaflux or similar inspection to detect invisible-to-the-eye cracks and damage to the receiver and barrels). If one of the triggers and the safety does not work, those things need to be repaired prior to firing the gun if all else passes muster. If the gun was built in the 19-teens, it should be able to handle modern low-base shotgun loads, but you must be sure of the chamber length. A good gunsmith can measure that easily; don't stick a tape measure up there and take a WAG. After a clean bill of health, I still would not fire the shotgun with any modern ammunition until you have researched the gun's capability to fire it. Given the damascus tubes, I personally would not, regardless.
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  • RobinRobin Member Posts: 1,228 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello BB,
    I would have this checked out by a gunsmith familar with classic damascus barrels. I assume this is a side lock shotgun and would guess the rear trigger and safety can be repaired if you can find the right guy. Try the Double Gun Journal for a lead on a competent smith. If all goes well and the owner wants to use this classic, he might consider installing tubes allowing a smaller gauge shell modern shell to be used, i.e. 16 ga. Depending on the condition of the barrel maybe chamber inserts would work safely. Get a competent gunsmith and listen to him. I hope the old work horse an be saved.
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  • only winchestersonly winchesters Member Posts: 1,580 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good morning BB: According to my Lefever S/N list your gun was made in approx. 1889. Damascas barrels means it's a BLACK POWDER gun only!! It also shoots only 2 7/8 in. shells!! The modern 3 1/2in. will not chamber.

    As others have said, DO NOT ATTEMP to shoot it until it's been checked out by a gunsmith.

    FYI: Black Powder "High Brass" shells in 2 7/8in. were available up until about WWII. Also today you can buy Black Powder loaded "short shells". NOT CHEAP!

    You might be able to find "inserts" for it maybe in 16 ga. 20ga. more likely. Very heavy gun to be carying around.

    Myself I think you have a "wall hanger".

    Regards Dave
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