GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
INCREDIBLY RARE HIGH ORIGINAL CONDITION LEFEVER BE GRADE 20 GA SHOTGUN.LEFEVERBE5460420GAMODERN; C&RCal. 20ga. 28" Damascus bbls, 3" Cham., full length matted top rib with brass front bead. Water table marked with SN on right side and traditional LeFever small bore (XX) marking on left flat and grade designation "B" along with large (O) above grade stamping. Double gold-plated finely checkered triggers, auto ejectors, auto safety, gold plated cocking indicators. Rounded capped semi-pistol grip stock with 5-point checkering and flowing wave pattern towards comb, vacant gold oval near toe and lined horn buttplate. Buttstock with spectacular pattern and grain flow. Splinter forearm finely checkered in 5-point pattern with scroll engraved escutcheon and engraved steel tip. Lockplates are beautifully engraved in classic late Ithaca made LeFever styling with two pointers in farm scene on left, two setters in similar scene on right all surrounded by well executed flowing scroll work. Front of lockplates with woodcock in oval on left and quail on right. Breech balls are beautifully sculpted with singe three leaf clover on each side which flows into butterfly ellipses on bbl at breech. Beautiful small burst of scroll engraved at breech on bbls. Bottom of frame is nicely sculpted and engraved with two geese in classic Ithaca/LeFever styling all surrounded by geometric design and scroll work. Front of trigger plates with patent dates, trigger guard bow with flying duck surrounded by scroll and SN noted at tang. Top of frame and top lever with superb scroll and geometric design. It is interesting to note that after the SN on left bbl tube there is a clear "A" grade stamping. It is well known amongst LeFever collectors that Ithaca was using leftover parts to assemble many of these later guns. This gun does not have stepped sideplates as typically found on most "B" grade guns and this is exactly what collectors would expect to see in an Ithaca assembled high grade LeFever. Bore diameter: left - .621, right - .621. Bore restrictions: left - .027 (full), right - .026 (full). Minimum wall thickness: left - .018, right - .016 . Weight: 5lbs. 15 oz. Drop at comb: 1-1/2", drop at heel: 2-9/16". LOP: 13-7/8". PROVENANCE: Private single owner advanced LeFever Collection. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine retaining most all orig finish to both wood and metal. Bbls retain 95-98% bold Damascus pattern. Receiver retains 85-90% dark bold orig case color with beginning edge wear. Trigger guard retains 75-80% bright orig high polish blue. Triggers retain most of their orig plating. Buttstock and forearm are excellent with light handling marks and retain most of their orig finish. There are a few light bumps on left side of butt and a factory replaced minor knot in grain towards heel. Small grain separation at heel on left side. Bores are excellent chambers having been lengthened and a couple of old dents removed. Mechanics are crisp, ejectors are in time. This is truly an exceptional high grade small bore LeFever and only one of just a handful of authentic "B" grade 20 Ga this cataloger has seen in nearly 30 years studying LeFever's. 51051-3 JSL (30,000-50,000)