However, I don’t think that’s why you came here. It is your gun, and as such you have the right to back your truck over it if that is your desire. I know you have good intentions and some carpentry experience, but that is not enough unless you are intent of lessening the value of your gun.
#Lefever nitro special shotgun how to#
At this point, you do not even know how to remove the trigger guard. Chances are very good that you do not own proper gunsmithing screwdrivers and tools for disassembly. But now you are contemplating a complete refinish of a collectible shotgun when you obviously have virtually no experience. Your light sanding of the numbers probably didn’t hurt much as the real damage there was done by the fool who scratched them into the wood. The three most important factors in determining its’ value are original condition, original condition, and original condition. It is somewhat scarce because of it’s small bore. Your gun as it is seems to be in a used but not abused condition. I am going to be blunt and to the point here. The following is excerpted from the Lefever Forum regarding somebody who inherited a Lefever shotgun and wanted to “fix it up”: They are essentially worthless and the administrator will help you get rid of them (NOT!). If you have one of these you are not likely to be searching the web to find out what it is, but if you do you should call the website administrator immediately and don’t tell anybody else about it. The LAC “Thousand Dollar Grade” and The DM Lefever “Uncle Dan Grade”. There were two other Grades not mentioned.
The model (most frequently “Nitro Special”) is stamped on the barrels. The post-LAC Ithaca Lefevers don’t have grades. Some of these guns will have the grade stamped on the stock grip, under the grip cap. In most cases they were Special Order or Presentation Guns. However, condition and any unique features also come into play. The general terms, the higher the grade the more the gun is worth. Lefever guns are marked Optimus, A,B,C,D,E,F, and O Ex(for Excelsior). For the LAC guns the Grade can range from Optimus, AA, A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I, and DS. You have to remove the barrels to see the grade mark. The watertable is the flat part of the frame that the barrels rest on. The Grades of the Lefever Arms Co (Syracuse) and DM Lefever guns is generally marked on the watertable. Dents and pitting in the barrels (look down the length of the barrels after running a cleaning brush and cloth) certainly detracts from value, but again doesn’t make it worthless as some of this can be repaired. Rust is bad but doesn’t necessarily make it worthless. You can tell twist or Damascus barrels by the pattern on the barrels that spirals the length of the barrels.Ĭondition can be difficult for an amateur to describe. Lefever guns came with either steel barrels or one of several kinds of twist steel. Minor pitting inside the barrel can sometimes be overcome. Dents in the barrel can usually be repaired if not severe. Obviously, this is not good.īarrel condition is important, especially if the buyer intends to shoot it. Sometimes case colors are faked by applying an acetylene torch to the frame. Mostly they are found on high grade guns that were lovingly kept and lightly used, or sent in for restorative work. However, original case colors on a gun that is an old as a Lefever that was used in the field are rather rare. Poor stock alterations or broken stocks obviously reduce the value.Ĭase colors on the frame (case colors are the various shades of blue and purple produced when the frame is originally hardened at the factory, or can be done later as a part of a restoration) are a positive factor, especially if original. Stock alterations can be very difficult to detect if done well and may not detract much from the value. If the sides of the barrels do not touch or come within a tiny fraction of touching they may have been cut. Another clue is to look at the barrels end on. A few are 26 especially in smaller guages The length is measured from the breech end of the barrels themselves, not the rib extension, to the muzzle end. Almost all Lefever gun barrels are exactly 28, 30 or 32 inches in length. The most frequent and costly in terms of values are if the barrels have been cut. We will not get into early Lefever hammer guns here because they are so rare. Guns have a Grade assigned including the later DM Lefever Guns. Instructions on how to post photos are on the forum site.įor the value of a Lefever the two most important issues are Grade and condition.
The best way to get a reasonable answer for your particular gun is by an inquiry to: before you jump there you need to have some basic information ready and photos will vastly increase the accuracy of any assessment the well informed LACA members will give. There is a market for most grades in good condition. The standard answer is whatever somebody will pay you for it.
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