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<  16ga. Guns  ~  Lefever E grade thumb push damascus 16 project
UncleDanFan
PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 11:00 am  Reply with quote
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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! Very Happy


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skeettx
PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 11:03 am  Reply with quote
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GREAT
Please keep the reports coming
Mike

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UncleDanFan
PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 4:38 pm  Reply with quote
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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 Very Happy




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skeettx
PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 4:53 pm  Reply with quote
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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. Smile will be most difficult to shoot without triggers !

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UncleDanFan
PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:01 pm  Reply with quote
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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


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! Very Happy

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UncleDanFan
PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:05 pm  Reply with quote
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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. Smile will be most difficult to shoot without triggers !


I almost forgot, thanks for the reminder about the triggers. I just figured the birds would fall from fright, but maybe you're right. Laughing 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!

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UncleDanFan
PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:02 am  Reply with quote
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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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UncleDanFan
PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:12 am  Reply with quote
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Here is another "before" pic:


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skeettx
PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:49 am  Reply with quote
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Glowing elegance !

What JOY

Mike

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Cheyenne08
PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:12 pm  Reply with quote
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Mark, wonderful work, anyone would be proud to carry that gun!

Dale

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UncleDanFan
PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:31 pm  Reply with quote
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Cheyenne08 wrote:
Mark, wonderful work, anyone would be proud to carry that gun!

Dale


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.

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last dollar
PostPosted: Fri Nov 08, 2019 2:20 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Jul 2008
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Location: Great State of Kansas

Absolutely GRAND! There is just something about Lefevers that reeks quality....
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lowgun
PostPosted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 3:10 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 02 Nov 2010
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Location: Maryland

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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lowgun
PostPosted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 3:11 pm  Reply with quote



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Great gun, Mark.
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UncleDanFan
PostPosted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 6:10 pm  Reply with quote
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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.


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. Laughing

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

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