Lefever 16ga double Help needed

[ChopperKen]

My friend/boss gave me a Lefever nitro special 16 ga double as a bonus this last summer.
I finally found the serial# on it and could use some help finding out when it was made and by who(lefever or ithaca).

I Googled but had no luck,

So I figured I'd ask the good people here...

Lefever Nitro Special
Lefever Arms Co Ithaca NY, is stamped on the barrels
"HOW" is stamped into the stock and receiver
serial# is S297552

Does anyone know of a site that carries info on these guns?

 

[classic095]

In My books, LeFever arms sold out to Ithaca in 1916 , All Lefever,s were discontinued in 1919, and Ithaca took over total production.. The nitro Special was made during 1921 and 1948 and when introduced the purchase price was a whopping 29 bucks..I will see if I can pinpoint the year of manufacture.. Book EXC; 600.00, Very Good, 400.00, Fair 200.00, Add 200for aurtomatic ejectors, 100, for single-selective trigger.

The Serial number you gave makes the gun made in 1930.

If you need more information than this, go to www.diamondgunsmithing.com Les is the guys name,, I have talked with him on numerous occassions...He was the gunsmith for Ithaca for years.

 

[ChopperKen]

Thanks classic,
You gave me the info I wanted.
Mostly the age I was wondering about,
I've used this gun for shooting clays,sparrows and crows.
I also took it on my first pheasant hunt last year,with the friend who gave it to me, He took his L.C.Smith 16 dbl. No birds but good memories.
So I didn't want to use it in the field to much if it was a rare or expensive gun...

 

[Dave McCracken]

The Nitro Special was a Lefever in name only. Made by Ithaca, the NS was the budget double, kinda like the Express line is to Wingmasters.

Upside, it's a well made, solid shotgun. As with all old shotguns, a visit to Mr Gunsmith before use is in order.

Last one I saw for sale was priced at $600, in very good shape.

Cherish your friend, he did you a great service....

 

[ChopperKen]

Dave, This one shows wear in the blueing but dosn't need Mr gunsmith at all.
I took it apart ,cleaned and inspected it. looked new inside and has the tightest lockup of any double I have ever used.
By the way Cherish him I do, he's been a good friend for over 15 years now.
and has given me many guns over the years including a fox/stevens 16 dbl. that got away from me.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Ken, Mr Gunsmith can....

Ascertain by measuring if barrel thickness has been compromised. There's venal fools out there that will hone pits out of a barrel to make it look good but not care if adequate thickness is maintained to avoid bursting.

A smith can also determine if the chambers are for the shorter shells commonly used before WWII. Ithaca, IIRC, went to 2 3/4" chambers from 2 5/8" around 1926. Firing off ammo in chambers too short to allow the crimp to open fully is neither fun nor safe.

However, if the smith gives your Lefever NS his blessing, I'd feel safe in using just about any shell out there except steel and similar non toxic pellets.

Bet yours would shine with 7/8 oz lights loads of 6-8 shot.

Enjoy....

 

[ChopperKen]

Dave,
I may have it looked over as you have have informed me of some thing I wasn't aware of.
Since I got this gun I've shot over 2 cases of 7 1/2 shot bird loads in it, It hasn't went up in a kerbang on me so far but I'm going to the smith next week anyway so I think I'll take it along for a second opinnion...

Thanks

 

[classic095]

I have a double 12, Ithaca, 1926.. handles 2 3/4 shells just fine.. probably the same gun as the Lafever...Flues Model 1 1/2

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thank you, Ken.

095,IIRC, the Flues replaced the Lewis model Ithaca and was replaced in turn by the New Ithaca Doublei or NID model. I had a chance to buy a Flues and contacted the Ithaca company before the latest one about it. They strongly advised against shooting ANY Ithaca double before the NID.

Again, I'd have a decent smith look it over, grenades and shotguns share a working pressure range.