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Lefever BE Grade 12 gauge – EXCEPTIONAL RESTORATION BY JIM KELLY, vintage firearms
Guns International #: 103544661 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Lefever Shotguns - Shotguns - American Double
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: Vintage Firearms, Inc
Company: Vintage Firearms, Inc.
Member Since: 5/19/07
First Name: Ron
Last Name: Cook
State: Michigan
Zip: 49546
Country: United States
Phone: (616) 608-4337
Phone2: (616) 730-8387
Fax: (616) 608-4701
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 278
Total Number of Listings: 6529
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
3 days
Payment Types Accepted: credit card, check, certified funds, wire transfer (Advertised price represents the 3.5% cash discount price. Actual price if paid by credit card is 3.5% higher cost.)
Description:
General Specs: Lefever, 1903, 12 Gauge, 7lbs. 15oz., Chokes M/XF, LOP 14 1/8", DAH 2 1/2", DAC 1 5/8"
Serial Number: 49605
Lefever Arms Co. of Syracuse, N.Y. produced innovative shotguns, some of the best of the American trade, from the 1880’s until the sale of the company to Ithaca Gun Co. in 1916. Ithaca assembled a few more Lefever patent shotguns through 1919 and then there were no more. The most innovative feature is the “ball and socket” joint that mates the barrels to the frame. Most other gun makers utilized the hinge pin in the action and hook on the barrels to join barrels to action. The ball and socket joint allows the user of the gun, through the simple turning of a large screw, to tighten the barrels to the standing breech. It is as brilliant as it is simple.
The breech is decorated with small scroll wedges and relief-carved wings which are engraved and flow right into the clover relief-carved breech fences. The friction style forend is nicely point-pattern checkered, with floral and geometric engraved steel tip, escutcheon, and iron. The case hardened sideplate receiver, with cocking indicators, is beautifully engraved with two pointers in an oval game scene on the right side and two setters on the left side. Each game scene is surrounded by fine scroll and chain link border pattern, which transitions from the front of the frame to the bottom of the sculpted receiver which is engraved with a scene of a retriever holding a mallard. The trigger guard has a pair of mallards flying over a pond, with scroll and borders surrounding. The case color is retained at 100% throughout and is rich in the proper tone colors for this gun.
The gun has gold-plated checkered double triggers, cocking indicators, as well as a gold shield on the belly of the stock, ready for your initials to make this beauty your own. The auto ejectors are nicely timed, auto safety operates properly, and the top lever lands well right-of-center. The highly figured straight grip walnut stock has carved teardrops behind the stepped sideplates, is checkered in a point pattern through the wrist with wave border pattern panel aft of the grip and terminates with a modern Silvers type recoil pad.
The restoration of this gun was completed by Jim Kelly of Darlington Gun Works. Covey Rise featured a story about Jim in their September 2022 issue*. Restored as it is, the gun is stunning, and it gives you the opportunity to make it your own if there are changes you would prefer, without concerns of messing with an original gun’s history. A VFI Premium Leather Pad or custom fit horn buttplate would be a consideration if you were looking for a different length of pull, for instance, and would fit the style and colors of this gun beautifully. Please review the detailed photos and specifications, and call with any questions.
*For further reading on Jim Kelly of Darlington Gun Works please visit the Covey Rise online archives and go to September 2022 for this article.
Barrels
Barrel Length: 30"
Chokes: .022/.042 M/XF
Bores: mirror
Bore Diameter: .738/.738
Wall Thickness: .037/.037
% Blue: 100%
Chambers: 2 3/4"
Ribs: tight
Sights: Front/mid ivory
Action
Action: tight-centered
Ejectors: timed
Receiver Condition: 100% restored Case Color
Screws: superb
Engraving: Excellent – Sharp, clear
Trigger Type: double-crisp
Trigger Guard Color: 100% restored, engraved
Stock
Type: straight/splinter
LOP: 14 1/8"
LOP To End Of Wood: 12 15/16"
DAH: 2 1/2"
DAC: 1 5/8"
Cast: 1/4" on
Checkering Condition: Excellent
Butt Treatment: Silvers Pad
INQUIRIES
There is a 30 day mechanical warranty on long guns. If it is a “VFI Certified” gun there is a 90 day mechanical warranty. Call or email us for more details or questions. Thanks! Vintage Firearms.
Payment and Shipping
Ways to Pay: Credit Card, Money Order, Certified Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer (Advertised price reflects 3.5% cash discount. Actual price if paid by credit card is 3.5% higher.)
Inspection Period / Return Policy: Three Days from the date the item was received.
Sales Tax Collected: FL, MI, PA
Shipping & Insurance: Ground $235.00 within continental U.S. Additional fees for HI & AK.
Item Condition: Used
Requires FFL?: Yes. C&R licenses accepted for shipping C&R eligible guns
Other
Terms of Purchase: Check your local and state laws before purchasing. It is the buyer’s responsibility to confirm his/her right to own the firearm or any item before purchasing.
PLEASE SEE OUR OTHER FINE VINTAGE FIREARMS. View all listings and our full inventory of fine sporting and collectible arms will appear. Thanks for looking! We employ full time gunsmiths on premises and can perform alterations to suit your needs within a few weeks of purchase. Common requests are: -stock bending to suit your particular requirements -addition of any specified butt pad to increase length of pull -alteration of chokes to suit your shooting preferences -lengthening of chambers and forcing cones -darkening stock color with penetrating stains -restoring any part of the gun including rust blue, charcoal blue, bone and charcoal case color, wood restoration and checkering recuts. If you like one our guns but it needs “tweaked”, let us know and we can quote you a time and price. Some enthusiasts like the guns “as found” and others want them “just so”. We often list guns as found and let the particular buyer choose how they want their gun to fit or look.
Price: $13,875.00
Shotgun Gauge: 12 Gauge