GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXCEEDINGLY RARE CAPE GUN BY DANGERFIELD & LEFEVER. DANGERFIELD & LEFEVER SXS RIFLE/ SHOTGUN 32 14GA/40/50 SHARPS BOTTLENECK (ca 1872) Cal. 14 ga. x 40/50 Sharps Bottleneck. 28-1/4" Steel bbls are marked "Dangerfield & Lefever" and "AUBURN N.Y." on full length flat rib with dolls head extension. Rib is fitted with single standing U-notch leaf rear sight, and large white bead front. Front portion of lump is stamped "No 32" and with a large "3". Case hardened action with push forward knurled button to withdraw top locking bolt which engages dolls head (a Lefever feature until the end of production), is fitted with non-rebounding bar locks with plain high spurred flat sided hammers. "Dangerfield & Lefever Auburn N Y" is at the front of each lockplate. Water table is stamped "No 32". Top strap is fitted with lollipop type screw adjustable sight with flip-up aperture. Dense American walnut pistol grip buttstock measures 14" over steel buttplate with 1" top spur. Well cut, coarsely spaced checkering is at grip. Bottom of grip is carved in very fine shell motif. Matching splinter uncheckered forend with nicely schnabel-filed inset horn tip, attaches to bbl with captive side nail through oval steel escutcheons, and is marked "No 32" on iron. Bore diameter: left -.717. Bore restrictions: left - .000 (cyl). Wall thickness: left - .038. Drop at heel: approx 2-5/8", drop at comb: approx 1-15/16". Weight: 10 lbs. 5 oz. LOP: 14". CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain 80 - 85% of their orig brown with scattered flecking and some marks and light scrapes. Front sight bead is new. Action and lockplates retain a considerable amount of their orig case hardening color, which was never very dark, and has some scattered mottling and staining. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig finish with slightly raised grain and a number of light scratches with a fairly deep ding on right side of butt. Finish on forend is worn relatively thin. Bores are excellent. Shotgun bore has some scattered minor light pits. Locks are crisp. An exceptional example from the earliest days of the illustrious career of D. M. Lefever, in a very unusual configuration. Easily the finest Dangerfield and Lefever Cape gun known. 50131-2 MGM180 (12,500-17,500)