GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE LEFEVER ARMS COMPANY "C GRADE" SIDE COCKING DRILLING, PICTURED IN ELIOTT & COBB'S LEFEVER BOOK.LEFEVERC GRADE DRILLING664710 GA X 10 GA X 45-70Cal. 10 ga x 10 ga x 45-70. This fine, early, exceedingly rare Lefever offering has 30″ fine Damascus shotgun bbls with steel rifle bbl mounted as top rib. Top rear of this bbl is engraved "Lefever Arms Co. Syracuse, NY". Single standing leaf semi-buckhorn rear sight is soldered on. Steel front bead is dovetailed through small base. Bbl flats are nicely polished and have owners initials (?) "RL" lightly punched in. SN is on bottom of left bbl. Case hardened hammerless sidelock action with long cocking lever on left side, is marked with SN and grade on water table, and features Lefever's compensating improvements with split lump, ball and socket hinge joint, as well as long push-up bbl release lever on top tang. Action also features an unusual grip safety (?), typical Lefever cocking indicators, and double triggers. It appears that rifle bbl is fired by rear trigger. Opening lever retracts dual forward sliding locking pins that engage shotgun bbls either side of rifle bbl. housed under cover in top. Action is engraved with about 30% coverage of various sized well cut scroll. This scroll is counterpoint to exceptionally well detailed dogs in field settings on lockplates; setter on left plate in front of fence line pointing pair of quail (?) in grass, and a pointing pointer on right. Trigger guard bow depicts a classic Lefever spaniel with duck in mouth. Top plate has scroll surrounding oval vignette of a standing buck. The front of each lockplate is engraved "Lefever Arms Co". Trigger plate is engraved "Pat 1872-78". Fine lightly streaked European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14" over checkered horn buttplate with spur. Horn grip cap has fluted edges. Comb is thin. Scallop patterned checkering has line border. Matching splinter forend has inset slightly schnabeled horn tip with push button release, and is fitted with very early Lefever cam to actuate extractors. Bore diameter: left -.773, right -.773. Bore restrictions: left -.023 (Mod), right -.027 (IMod). Minimum wall thickness: left -.052, right -.035. Drop at heel: approx 3", drop at comb: approx 2-1/8". Cast: Neutral. Weight: 9 lbs 11 oz. LOP: 14". PROVENANCE: This very gun is pictured on page 36 and 37 of Elliott & Cobb's LEFEVER: GUNS OF LASTING FAME. Lifetime Lefever Arms Collection of Scott Lefever. CONDITION: Very fine, as partially refinished. Bbls retain 80 - 90% orig Damascus brown, with excellent definition to pattern, which is somewhat thinned and turned darker brown along sides, and has a few light marks. Action retains a considerable amount, perhaps half, of its orig case hardening color, fairly strong where protected, but turning to brown and fading. Cocking lever retains perhaps more than half of its orig bright temper blue. Stocks refinished, and retain nearly all of that finish over a number of marks, checkering re-cut. Stock has been broken through the wrist and repaired. This repair is very difficult to detect, and appears solid. Horn of buttplate is very fine, showing some crazing. There is a fingernail sized chip out of horn on grip cap. Bores are excellent with a hint of frosting and one or two light dents. Rifle bore is excellent with strong, sharp rifling throughout. Action is tight. (Not sure exactly how the rifle bbl is fired, and it may not work.) 50254-1 MGM141 (15,000-25,000)