I took the rifle to another gunsmith two weeks ago. He told me today that I need a new lever. The 1st gunsmith ground down part of the lever and cut a notch in it ( 2nd smith didn't know why this was done ). He tried all his parts sources with no luck. He said he would keep trying.

I do feel a little sick, that gun looked nearly new, inside and out, when I took it to the 1st gunsmith

Does anyone know where I can get a lever for a new model ( IIRC, that is rifles made after 1957 )?