LeFever Update - it's a 16... Buy or ?

[ArmedBear]

Thanks for the info and help in the other thread!

I went back to look at the LeFever for $250, and found it was a 16 Gauge when I tried to stuff snap caps in it.

That's not a showstopper, but it does make it worth a fair amount less than a 12, AFAIK.

I was able to remove the barrels per Lee's instructions. The foreend does just snap on and off. They ring like bells. They don't appear to be dinged up, but the bores are filthy. They don't appear rusty, but it looks like someone shot the gun a fair amount without cleaning it. Can't tell much until I get the crud out.

I'll probably go back with a cleaning rod tomorrow. Any thoughts about the value of a 16 Gauge Nitro Special? 28" barrels, some rust on the trigger guard and surface rust on the CCH receiver, barrels are grayish blue. Not bad condition all around. Plain wood. Still worth $250?

Thanks again all!

 

[PTK]

....if you don't want it, PLEASE tell me where it is. I'd buy it sight unseen for $250 and have it shipped here.

It's still worth it.

 

[Okiecruffler]

Yeah, I agree. I'd go back tomorrow with a cleaning rod and $250 in hand. I'm not sure what grade you're looking at, but my blue book shows even the lowly nitro special in 16ga and 60% at $300 and I've always seen that the blue book underprices SXS's on the market. FWIW, 16ga command a 50% premium over the 12's.

OK, went back to the original post and saw it was a Nitro Special. So that's what you're looking at, from $725 at 100% to the above mentioned 300 at 60%.

 

[Hawk]

Probably a decent buy if you have more will power than I.

My L.C. Smith offers a persistent low-level temptation to send it to Turnbull which would remove any trace of "bargain" from the equation.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Get it.

 

[ArmedBear]

FWIW, 16ga command a 50% premium over the 12's.

Somewhere other than here. Whatever people somewhere else think of 16's, here they're mainly seen as something that's expensive and a PITA to get ammo for. That said, the 16 is no lightweight; I doubt the gun would feel good in 12. It seems to be a perfect example of why 16 was popular, just as the newer Berettas are perfect examples of why it isn't any more.

Of course, in the Internet Age, location means less than it used to when it comes to resale value.

Thanks all.

 

[axeman_g]

please... let us know if you dont get it and where it is located.