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< 16ga. Guns ~ Lefever E grade thumb push damascus 16 project |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 22, 2019 11:00 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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Finally had some time to work on this Lefever 16. After re-shaping the wood around the side plates, and converting to straight grip, I love the elegant lines and overall sleekness of it. Here it is in progress, with the ebony tip replaced on the forend. The stock will have to be darkened somewhat to match the forend. I'll add some grain while I'm at it, and maybe a small custom flourish in the corner. Or not. So far so good!
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_________________ 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." |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 22, 2019 11:03 am
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9468
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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GREAT
Please keep the reports coming
Mike |
_________________
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USAF RET 1971-95 |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 4:38 pm
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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It's progressing, slowly but surely. The forend is done, and with a coat of finish on the stock, it has some nice color and a bit of figure that I can work with. All that's left is inletting the long tang, then checkering and finish. Hope to use it for a chukar hunt late October or November! Good times
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_________________ 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." |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 4:53 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9468
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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SWEET
Thank you for the progress update
WOOD looks great on this old warrior.
Any idea how many E grade thumbs were made in 16?
What ammo will you use for your hunting foray?
Mike
p.s. will be most difficult to shoot without triggers ! |
_________________
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USAF RET 1971-95 |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:01 pm
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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skeettx wrote: |
SWEET
Thank you for the progress update
WOOD looks great on this old warrior.
What ammo will you use for your hunting foray?
Mike
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Thanks Mike. I ordered some RST copper plated 6's today. I would prefer to use nickle 6's but I can't find any. This gun is choked cyl/ic, and chukars flush at all ranges, so I'll likely have to pass on some long shots that I would normally take. However, if you circle around the birds to get in front of the dog on point, pinning them between you, you can get much closer shots. I had some last year that flushed at 10-20 yards. I'm hoping this gun will surprise me, as it shoots fantastic at 16 yd trap with the cyl barrel. Depending on how it does, I'll load up some 2.5" nickle/buffer handloads this next off season. Perhaps that won't even be necessary. We'll see! |
_________________ 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." |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:05 pm
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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skeettx wrote: |
SWEET
Thank you for the progress update
WOOD looks great on this old warrior.
Any idea how many E grade thumbs were made in 16?
What ammo will you use for your hunting foray?
Mike
p.s. will be most difficult to shoot without triggers !
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I almost forgot, thanks for the reminder about the triggers. I just figured the birds would fall from fright, but maybe you're right. There were very few E grade thumbs in 16. This is the only one I've ever seen. It's a 66xx serial #, and the others I know of in larger gauges are in the 9xxx range, so this appears to be an early prototype, with the squared off internal radius of the lock plates. All the others I've seen are rounded. It's a cool piece of history for sure. Probaby one that Uncle Dan worked on himself I would think. The gun handles and shoots beautifully! |
_________________ 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." |
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Posted:
Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:02 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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Well, I think I'm finished for now, unless I decide to refinish the the barrels at some point. I cleaned the receiver metal, and I like it the way it is. I also did a light grain enhancement on the wood, befitting the understated nature of the engraving. Next offseason I'll send the trigger guard out for engraving, and I'll get a nice hard case with a Lefever label for it too. In the meantime, here she is:
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_________________ 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." |
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Posted:
Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:12 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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Posted:
Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:49 am
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9468
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Glowing elegance !
What JOY
Mike |
_________________
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USAF RET 1971-95 |
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Posted:
Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:12 pm
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Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 1370
Location: Cheyenne, Wy
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Mark, wonderful work, anyone would be proud to carry that gun!
Dale |
_________________ One man with courage makes a majority.
...Andrew Jackson... |
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Posted:
Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:31 pm
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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Cheyenne08 wrote: |
Mark, wonderful work, anyone would be proud to carry that gun!
Dale
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Thank you. I'm growing quite fond of it, and I haven't even shot a bird with it yet. I can say it 's a joy to shoot at trap. Surprisingly effective at the 16yd line, even with its cyl/lm chokes. Should translate well to close-med. range birds. |
_________________ 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." |
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Posted:
Fri Nov 08, 2019 2:20 am
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Joined: 17 Jul 2008
Posts: 765
Location: Great State of Kansas
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Absolutely GRAND! There is just something about Lefevers that reeks quality.... |
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Posted:
Thu Jan 09, 2020 3:10 pm
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Joined: 02 Nov 2010
Posts: 47
Location: Maryland
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Mark, this is the first I have seen this great gun. My 16 thumb is serial number 9336. I also own serial number 9568, reputedly the very first 16 gauge hammerless top lever. I can't get enough of this Lefever business. My first gun was/is an E grade pigeon gun when I was about eleven years old. I was lucky that my 16 thumb was in high condition when I found it and it needs no work. |
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Posted:
Thu Jan 09, 2020 3:11 pm
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Joined: 02 Nov 2010
Posts: 47
Location: Maryland
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Posted:
Thu Jan 09, 2020 6:10 pm
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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lowgun wrote: |
Mark, this is the first I have seen this great gun. My 16 thumb is serial number 9336. I also own serial number 9568, reputedly the very first 16 gauge hammerless top lever. I can't get enough of this Lefever business. My first gun was/is an E grade pigeon gun when I was about eleven years old. I was lucky that my 16 thumb was in high condition when I found it and it needs no work.
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Cool! Please post pics. Would love to see another one, as mine is the only 16 I've seen thus far. With the 6xxx serial #, I do wonder if it's one of the first 16 thumb push actions that he produced? The squared off side plate and low serial number can make a case for it.
I just saw a 12 thumbpush go at auction this week. I was tempted, but I don't need another 12. I have two, which is one too many as it is.
I can also see why he went to the top lever design after the thumb push. His angled bolt engagement with the top lever design is genius. |
Last edited by UncleDanFan on Thu Jan 09, 2020 6:17 pm; edited 1 time in total _________________ 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." |
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