Need your opinion - Large Loop Lever w/ pics

[deerwhacker444]

Thanks for posting links to cut-away pics of the 1894, I finally got the lever figured out. I made this today, and I want to know what your opinions are. I made this one out of Aluminum to get the kinks worked out before I make one from steel. How does it look? Personally, I think I might have made it a little too large, but I don't know. I don't think it's as big as the one on John Wayne's classic 92 rifle.







What do you think, what should I change. I'll tell you it took me quite a while to figure out the geometry of the lever. I have new respect for the first guys to put this thing together.

[reo]

Nice work, I admire your skill. Unique.

[Jarhead]

Looks good...to get a better comparison, take a look at the large lever loop that Wild West Guns has on thier web site. Yours looks pretty close to what they have...I have one on my 1895GS from them. I like it when it's cold and I'm wearing gloves...

Nice work!

[The Lewis]

Looks good! As for size, I guess I'd want it just big enough to comfortably fit my hand with the biggest glove I'd be apt to wear and no bigger. You going into production with these?

[Tycer]

Bleh!

If you hunt with mittens then they are a necessary evil. But bleh!

Nice work though!!!!

If I would change anything, I might make the concaves on either side of the trigger guard symmetrical.

[J Miller]

Love the skill you got. As for the over sized lever loop, I'd only make it just big enough to use with gloves in very cold weather.

Joe

[Modoc ED]

Great work with a lot of engineering and thought put into it but it's too big for my taste. A little smaller and more rounded would make it look better.

But again -- great work.

[Old Savage]

The geometry of this one makes it easier to cycle the action. Proof is in the pudding. I like the one Rossi uses. Depends somewhat on your hand and if gloves will be involved. I think for my taste I would take a little off the lower back. Impressive that you could do that.

[deerwhacker444]

Thanks for the Input..

[O.S.O.K.]

I'll add to the "wow nice work" comments. Though, I don't like the big loop look myself and find the issue levers just fine. The one that OS showed would be my pick should cold weater necessitate gloves.

[Ysabel Kid]

Lots of skill there - and I imagine a fair amount of patience. Congrats - looks great to me, and I'm looking foward to the steel one!

[Rustolium]

Very nice work! If I were to buy one, I'd like the back end to not stick out so much and the "belly" to be less. I'd also round it off more, less square. Did you do the work yourself or was it done by CNC?

[TedH]

Personally, I don't like any large loops. I must say I'm impressed with your craftsmanship though.

[Borregos]

Nice work.
Could you please repost the links to the cutaway pics, I missed it!!

[BigBoreWhore]

Nice work, I'm doing one myself with a little more trigger finger room, and not quite that large...

[AndyM]

Personally, I don't like any large loops. I must say I'm impressed with your craftsmanship though.

+1 on this. Your skill is top notch, but large levers are not for me.

[Hagler]

deerwhacker444,

You did a really good job!

Opinion: I like my big loop levers more roundererererer than what you done got there. ...but, the factory big lever on my Henry is a little bigger than the one that Old Savage has, and it is the same shape, and I like it, too.

If your design functions for you, then leave that way.

Shawn

[deerwhacker444]

Alright,..using all the replies.!

I shrunk the loop a little bit so it looks a little better. Also, just to be different, I added a couple of small finger notches to see how they feel. One thing that I thought I might like is the addition of a trigger stop, to get rid of the extra travel. Not sure quite how it will work, but I thought I'd give it a try and see. It will have to be filed to fit, so I should be able to get the trigger to stop right after it breaks.


Borregos Here's a link to one of the cutaways, this one has animation.

http://www.hunter-ed.com/wa/course/2-7_ ... _lever.htm

[2ndovc]

Pretty cool!!!



jb

[reo]

I like the new design. Just a thought, what if you extended the portion where the finger grooves are a half inch to allow for a positive lock up of the lever. It would act like the addition at the bottom of beaver tail grip on a 1911. The finger grooves still could be added on to the extended portion.

[claybob86]

Very impressive! I'd like to know how you made that.

[Paladin]

Very impressive, if you decide to make more let me know. A little smaller loop preferred.

[AJMD429]

I like the one Rossi uses.

Do they sell those as aftermarket items, or what? I never saw one that contour, but I like it.

[AJMD429]

I shrunk the loop a little bit so it looks a little better.

I like the smaller design you made, personally. Consider a set screw protruding and adjustable as a trigger stop.

[Pathfinder09]

Too much for me, I prefer the stock lever. It has worked well for over 100 years I have no need to change it now. But good luck with it, to each his own.

[Hobie]

Personally, one JUST large enough to hold a gloved hand is plenty big enough. Slop between the hand and lever is wasted energy. No, I'm not talking a race gun, but a hunting gun. I see no reason for the huge lever loops unless you habitually use the big sealskin mittens with a shooting finger...

[deerwhacker444]

But,...But,....John Wayne had a gigantic loop........

Thanks for all the replies, I've got a design whittled out that I like. Now all I need is to order some steel. It's my understanding that steel with a higher carbon content provides a deeper blue. Is there any truth to this. I was thinking about some 4300 series Chrome Moly. I'd like to use a 12L14 or 12L40, but I can't find it in sheet form and I don't know if it would blue nicely.

[TomD]

Do any pivot or engagement points have to be hardened? It could be so for a commercial product where one doesn't know how much use a product will get. One might not need to on a personal loop.