I have an old Le fever 12 ga, side lock. the right barrel has been shot so much that it is sharp on the end. That barrel is so thin that it ruptured and was brazed up. I bought it for a wall hanger but have longed to be able to use it.It is such a fine graceful gun, I think it is a shame to hang it up and forget about it. I thought about having it tubed to a smaller guage but I am afraid that will make it to heavy and off ballance. Part of the attraction is the Lafever's simularity to a british made SXS ie.. light weight well ballenced and quick handling. Exspence is also a factor. Does anyone know of any other alternatives?

I have often wondered about the pwner of this gun. he must have been a fine shot as he rarely needed that second barrel... if guns could talk...

Is it a Lefever Arms Co. gun?

If so than it's not a sidelock but rather a sideplate gun, sort of a boxlock with decorative plates.

You could have the gun sleeved or tubed in 12 ga. but unless it was a higher grade gun it would cost more than buying one in shootable condition.

Any engraving on it? The grades were, I believe, marked on the watertable.


Rob

English proof houses have actually passed guns with hiles worn through the barrels near the muzzle. The biggest problem is that the barrels are very easy to dent when they get that thin. Not saying I would want it that way, but saying that it can be done if everything else is right.

You can get sub-gauge tubes that are very light and will not add as much weight as you probably think.

This gun was likely not designed for the typical shell availible in Amercia. Even the "low brass" shells are the same pressure as "high brass" shells. Proper ammo is easy to get though, and many folks sell it on the net and will ship it to your door. You can age and wear a gun like this very quickly by shooting loads you can buy at WalMart, Cabellas, or where ever. The Winchester "feather lights" are the lowest pressure US shells by one of the major manufactureres, but they are also not in every store you walk into.

go to gunshop.com and ask any question you have about the gun, options for it, proper shells, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by riverman1:
... I thought about having it tubed to a smaller guage but I am afraid that will make it to heavy and off ballance. ...

You can do a net-search on "Briley Chokes" and locate the company that can fix your problems.

The offer excellent Gunsmithing services in addition to offering two kinds of "full length tubes".

One set is Titanium and as well as I can remember may add 1-ounce per barrel. They are not cheap and can even be built to "Regulate" the Pattern to where ever you want it to impact.

The Tubes come in any size you desire and can purchase Screw-In Chokes by "Points of Constriction"(aka 0.001" change).

One of my old buddies in Raleigh shoots a lot of Skeet. He bought a complete set(20, 28 and .410) for his 12ga Shadow maybe 25 years ago. He tells me it was some of the best money he has ever spent.

Best of luck to you.

And there is also a company in England, Teague, that will sleeve your existing barrels, i.e, remove some of the inside of your barrels and solder in a full length liner in the same gauge with your choice of choke options. Doesn't alter the balance of the gun. A great replacement for suspect damascus barrels, will still have the lovely pattern on the exterior.

About $1200 last I looked

simmons gun repair could probably rebuild your barrels.

it probably won't be cheap but i'll bet they could do it.

i have a french mas they did some work on for me. it was first class.