Off Center Lever

[Tex .416]

Looking at double rifles online, quite a few have off center levers, even some new ones. Is that a red flag for a potential issue or just the fit is so tight the parts have not worn into their final resting spot?

 

[Nhoro]

The locking lever does not usually lock up centered. It is usually at a slight angle. I don't think there is a specific measurement but a stand to be corrected.

 

[mdwest]

the locking lever on my wifes chapuis iphisi is pretty close to centered (looks perfectly centered to the naked eye.. Ive never actually measured it)..

that said none of my double shotguns.. to include both SxS and OU are perfectly centered.. all of the are off at various angles.. these include beretta, webley and scott, and AyA guns.. being off center has never created any sort of functional problem, so Ive never really given any thought to it or worried about it..

 

[skydiver386]

Most anything except the cheapest single shot shotguns will have the lever slightly offset to the right when new, called the 5 O'clock position. As the locking surfaces wear, the lever will move closer to center, or the 6 O'clock position. When the locking block is worn from firing many thousand of rounds, the lever may reach the 7 O'clock position, and it's time for a trip to the gunsmith for a rebuild.

Research guns like the Browning BT-99 that are often fired tens of thousands of rounds per year, and you'll get the idea.

This shotgun is probably getting close to needing a new locking block fitted.

 

[Doug3006]

@skydiver386 is right. This is intentional to allow for wear. If the lever is left of center it means wear has taken its toll and the lockup may need to be reworked. Right of center is perfectly normal.