Author |
Message |
< 16ga. Guns ~ what is a Lefever DS? |
|
Posted:
Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:00 pm
|
|
|
Joined: 30 Sep 2015
Posts: 641
Location: NEW SALISBURY INDIANA
|
|
saw one at a gun show, 16ga 26 inch barrels. how can you tell its a DS? is it marked somewhere? |
_________________ 16ga 3-Win 37
16ga Ithaca 37 1946
16ga Western Auto Revelation
16ga Browning A-5 1929
16ga Marlin 90 1939
16ga browning citori lightning grade 3 2003
16ga Francisque Darne 1920 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:15 pm
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 07 Jan 2013
Posts: 398
Location: Virginia
|
|
It should be marked "DS" next to the serial number on the water table (the flat part of the frame under the barrels). It stands for "Durston Special" and was named after the Durston family who acquired the company from D. M. Lefever.
The DS and the I grade were the lowest grade sideplate guns made by Lefever Arms Company, but they were still very nice guns. They lack the dolls head rib extension and the cocking indicators featured on the higher grade guns.
They should not be confused with the Lefever Nitro Special which was actually made by Ithaca after they bought the old Lefever company. |
_________________ C&R FFL since 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Mon Jan 15, 2018 5:13 am
|
|
|
Joined: 30 Sep 2015
Posts: 641
Location: NEW SALISBURY INDIANA
|
|
can the 26 inch barrels be correct? or could they have been cut. I did not measure the chokes |
_________________ 16ga 3-Win 37
16ga Ithaca 37 1946
16ga Western Auto Revelation
16ga Browning A-5 1929
16ga Marlin 90 1939
16ga browning citori lightning grade 3 2003
16ga Francisque Darne 1920 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Mon Jan 15, 2018 2:58 pm
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
|
|
26" could indeed be correct. DS grades also tend to be among the lightest they made for some reason, with 16's often weighing 6 to 6.5lbs in the 26" configuration. Great guns if you find one that fits you well. |
_________________ Gun art: www.marklarsongunart.com
Gallery art: www.marklarsonart.com
The man's prayer from the Red Green Show: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to. I guess." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:55 pm
|
|
|
Joined: 07 Sep 2011
Posts: 572
Location: wheeling, wv
|
|
DS all had steel barrels. I have 2 DS 20's, one with ejectors, and both have 26" barrels. The 20's were all under 6lbs. The 16's were made on the same frame as the 20's which is why they were so light. The frame should be marked with the "XX". |
_________________ we salute you bird of thunder |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 7:40 am
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
|
|
3birddogs wrote: |
DS all had steel barrels. I have 2 DS 20's, one with ejectors, and both have 26" barrels. The 20's were all under 6lbs. The 16's were made on the same frame as the 20's which is why they were so light. The frame should be marked with the "XX".
|
I've owned several xx frame lefever 16's, mostly H grades, and one of which went 7lbs. For some reason the DS grades tend to be much lighter. |
_________________ Gun art: www.marklarsongunart.com
Gallery art: www.marklarsonart.com
The man's prayer from the Red Green Show: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to. I guess." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:08 am
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 363
Location: connecticut
|
|
For a perspective on Lefever weights, the 1902 I grade I have in 12 gauge ,with 28" steel barrels weighs 16lb-9oz. That's with an original buttplate.
Art |
_________________ A thing of beauty is ajoy forever! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:13 am
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 467
Location: SC PA
|
|
scraggley wrote: |
For a perspective on Lefever weights, the 1902 I grade I have in 12 gauge ,with 28" steel barrels weighs 16lb-9oz. That's with an original buttplate.
Art
|
Wow! Quite the beast.
I'm guessing an extra one may have got added there?
Marc |
_________________ "A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man" - Vito Corleone
''Common Sense isn't common" -Lefty Kreh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:53 am
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 363
Location: connecticut
|
|
Sorry about that senior moment! Correct wt. 6 lb-9oz.
Art |
_________________ A thing of beauty is ajoy forever! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Tue Jan 23, 2018 10:06 pm
|
|
|
Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2127
Location: Hudson,Wy
|
|
I have a DS in 16 ga. with 26" barrels. Very light and a joy to handle. As odd as this sounds, the gun balanced very light at the muzzle so I bored the butt stock to compensate. The result was an even lighter gun with even better manners. I will endeavor to retain these qualities when I build a new wood set to replace the repaired walnut that currently graces the gun. Interesting to hear that higher grades weigh more. I suppose I could engrave the DS...
Tomorrow she helps me close out our local goose season. |
_________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:48 am
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 25, 2018 8:51 pm
|
|
|
Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2127
Location: Hudson,Wy
|
|
If you found a new gun that feels as good and swings as nice as a DS, I'm impressed. |
_________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
|
|
|
|
|
|