Lefever Nitro 12 ga.

[steves2]

For a long time I tried to keep away from shotguns because I was afraid I would enjoy shooting them...and wind up spending a bunch of money buying them, joining a club, etc.
Recently I've been looking at some... I live in Ithaca, NY, and thought it might be fun to have something from the Ithaca Gun Company when I moved from here.
At my LGS I asked to see a 'blued metal and wooden stock' double barrel, side-by-side. It was a Lefever Nitro Special in 12 ga, in what seems to me to be in good shape (shines bore, no cracks, etc). These were made in Ithaca (by the IGC).
I've done some research and the price is a bit high, but the condition is better than the other guns I've seen prices for. What I am a bit concerned about is buying and using a 12 ga that was made in the 40's or 50's, when these were made.
Advise? Cautions?

 

[RPRNY]

If the objective is to have an Ithaca made sxs, this achieves that goal well. Do you have other objectives? A sxs is a good choice for an upland bird gun, for example but not as good a choice as an o/u for clay sports, particularly skeet, for example. It would not be a good choice for waterfowling either, for example, given the likely weather damage it will incur let alone that it likely not proofed for steel shot. Joe Biden does however cite it as an excellent firearm for home defense. As he says, "If an intruder is at your door, just fire both barrels. That's all you need."...Poor Joe.

Provided the gun is in proper working order and has modern 2 3/4" chambers, you should have no concerns about using this gun in a moderate annual round count role as an upland bird gun. Looks to be in good shape for its age.

 

[steves2]

If the objective is to have an Ithaca made sxs, this achieves that goal well. Do you have other objectives? A sxs is a good choice for an upland bird gun, for example but not as good a choice as an o/u for clay sports, particularly skeet, for example. It would not be a good choice for waterfowling either, for example, given the likely weather damage it will incur let alone that it likely not proofed for steel shot. Joe Biden does however cite it as an excellent firearm for home defense. As he says, "If an intruder is at your door, just fire both barrels. That's all you need."...Poor Joe.

Provided the gun is in proper working order and has modern 2 3/4" chambers, you should have no concerns about using this gun in a moderate annual round count role as an upland bird gun. Looks to be in good shape for its age.

I should learn how to reply on my iPhone!!!!

Thanks for your response. I will probably only use it to shoot at the red 'fake' birds at a club. I have no experience shooting a shotgun at anything, so this will be a new experience for me.

WHy do you advise that this would be a poor choice for clay sports? What are things I should look for to have more fun/success with those sports?

I won't thank you for reminding me of Joe and his family-defense theories!

 

[Crawdad1]

I've had this Nitro Special built in 1936 since around 1984 and I've shot ducks, geese, pheasants, grouse and a few deer with it. Great guns.
In South Dakota pheasant hunting.




I had it redone incorrectly because I hardly ever use it anymore and I didn't want to spend the money having it case colored.



Is it a Perazzi, no, but it is a good solid hunting iron. If I was an old farmer or an old coal miner in 1936 and could afford only one gun to hang over the door or fireplace that gun would be it.

 

[Crawdad1]

Give me a partial serial number (or send a PM) and I can tell you what year it was built.

 

[cdb1]

That is a nice looking shotgun. If it is mechanically sound I say jump on it.

 

[steves2]

Give me a partial serial number (or send a PM) and I can tell you what year it was built.

Next time I go to my LGS I'm going to get it. I found the website for the Lefevercollectors.com and can get that info. That's where I found out the production dates in general, and how long ago they were made...which can be good as the workmanship is good.

 

[Crawdad1]

You're only going to shoot clay birds with it? I was going to say steel shot but never mind.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Great shotgun. I don't shoot slugs or steel through mine, but any regular factory loads have shot well for me. Enjoy it.

 

[huntsman]

Look for an NID instead, the Nitro special was what used to be called a hardware gun because it was cheap.

FWIW NewYork was the home of some great gun companies, my favorite was Hunters arms from Fulton NY

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Look for an NID instead, the Nitro special was what used to be called a hardware gun because it was cheap.

FWIW NewYork was the home of some great gun companies, my favorite was Hunters arms from Fulton NY

I have a Hunter Arms 20 GA. They were owned by LC Smith, they were the economy line. I love mine, natural pointer. Don't knock the Nitro, it was made by Ithaca, who bought the rights to the Lefever name. Not a bad shotgun at all.

 

[huntsman]

I owned 3 Fultons a Hunters special and a Elsie all in 16 gauge, my Nitro special was a 12 and it looked clunky and crude compared to the Hunters arms guns. Now the NID that was a classic in looks. Actually the Hunter brothers own LC Smith, the smith brothers got out of guns early on.

 

[PabloJ]

It is least expensive of what they call American Classic and well suited to standard velocity US 1&1/8oz lead game load if in very good mechanical order. Better gun than Stevens, Crescent, Savage-Fox (not Fox-Sterlingworth which was superior gun of Fox Gun Company made by Savage Arms in NY after it bought Fox Gun Co), IGA......and rest of them clunkers. It is inferior to quality foreign field grade guns like Beretta 409, 410, 411, Husqvarna 300 series, Manufrance Robust, Sakaba 100, 200.....

 

[eastbank]

my lefever is a early 12ga with steel barrels last pat date is1907, so it was made after 1907 in syracuse N.Y. #67163--DS2. tight on face and the barrels ring, i shoot 1 oz # 6 shot at 1100 fps with out any problems, i only hunt with it for small game and it does just as good today as it in when new over a hundred years ago. eastbank.

 

[huntsman]

There are those in the SXS world that believe Uncle Dan built the finest American SXS.

 

[muzzleblast...]

I have a Lefever Nitro Special 12 ga. that my grandfather used for many decades, It put many meals on the table. Reminds me that I need to take it squirrel hunting.

 

[paulsj]

There are those in the SXS world that believe Uncle Dan built the finest American SXS.

The best American sxs was Remington 1894. Remington had bunch of good guns including 1894, 17, 31, 32, 870, 1100, and a few Parker Bros guns. I should mention engraving on high grade ones was first rate with no "stick figures" found on other brands. No one came even close to Remington.

 

[Crawdad1]

I don't know about that just look at the prices Parker shotguns command.

https://stevebarnettfineguns.com/pa...8-gauge-1-of-8-made-best-in-the-world?rq=1095


https://stevebarnettfineguns.com/parker-1-shotguns-for-sale/?category=12+Gauge

 

[cdb1]

The best American sxs was Remington 1894. Remington had bunch of good guns including 1894, 17, 31, 32, 870, 1100, and a few Parker Bros guns. I should mention engraving on high grade ones was first rate with no "stick figures" found on other brands. No one came even close to Remington.

Many, including me, believe the Winchester Model 21 to be the best.

 

[Crawdad1]

Did you buy it?