New user with a Lefever E

[Kevin Moore]

Howdy folks from Kentucky. First post. I grew up dreaming about fine doubles but just recently got the " bug" again. Picked up an Ithaca field grade 12 ga a year or so ago to get me started. Walked in to my local gun/pawn last week and there stands the first Lefever I had ever seen in the flesh. Love at first sight. Thanks for having me and providing this treasure trove.
This one is # 59283, 30 " bbls with what seems to be x full and xx full choking.

[Kevin Moore]

A few more

[Sara LeFever]

If you aren’t already a member, check out the Lefever Arms Collectors Association. :whistle:

Website and membership details: https://www.lefevercollectors.com/contact/

Forum: https://www.lefevercollectors.com/discussion/

[Kevin Moore]

If you aren’t already a member, check out the Lefever Arms Collectors Association. :whistle:

Website and membership details: https://www.lefevercollectors.com/contact/

Forum: https://www.lefevercollectors.com/discussion/

Thanks for the invite. I'm on the forum, and my dues will be in the mail next week.

[Drew Hause]

Nice 3 Iron "Oxford" barrels

I believe both barrels are lightly stamped with the SB&Co T of Sanderson Bros. & Co; T possibly Tacony Iron Works (1881-1910) of Philadelphia. Or maybe 'F'. We haven't found an 'F' steel works.

This is a fluid steel Lefever H with SB&Co G; G possibly D.G. Gautier & Co. listed as an agent for both Sanderson Brothers & Co.

We think SB&Co acted as an import agent for the Belgian rough forged tubes

https://photos.smugmug.com/Barrel-Evaluations/Makers/i-vZ9XkM6/0/LhZWVhGdwNXPGfsBW4qsZVhXmFTQXKqcVLCkT6vNR/M/Lefever%20H%20SBCoG-M.jpg (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Barrel-Evaluations/Makers/i-vZ9XkM6/A)

Scroll down about 1/2 way here for more information
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17ixogftgITEblNUWtmFBv96ZvgjK6eFell8GsAWd-KI/edit?tab=t.0

[Kevin Moore]

Nice 3 Iron "Oxford" barrels

I believe both barrels are lightly stamped with the SB&Co T of Sanderson Bros. & Co; T possibly Tacony Iron Works (1881-1910) of Philadelphia. Or maybe 'F'. We haven't found an 'F' steel works.

This is a fluid steel Lefever H with SB&Co G; G possibly D.G. Gautier & Co. listed as an agent for both Sanderson Brothers & Co.

We think SB&Co acted as an import agent for the Belgian rough forged tubes

https://photos.smugmug.com/Barrel-Evaluations/Makers/i-vZ9XkM6/0/LhZWVhGdwNXPGfsBW4qsZVhXmFTQXKqcVLCkT6vNR/M/Lefever%20H%20SBCoG-M.jpg (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Barrel-Evaluations/Makers/i-vZ9XkM6/A)

Scroll down about 1/2 way here for more information
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17ixogftgITEblNUWtmFBv96ZvgjK6eFell8GsAWd-KI/edit?tab=t.0

Giant thanks for this info. I was hoping someone could tell me what the stamps were. I am just stepping into the world of Damascus and have been consuming all your old posts that I find. I wish I had half the guns I've spurned because they were "unsafe". Currently shopping for someone in driving distance to do a proper eval before firing.

As far as the last mark in the stamping, I was seeing either an I or L. Any results using those letters? Thanks again for your assistance and providing many hours of reading.

[Drew Hause]

The mark is lightly struck, or was partially removed as part of the barrel final fit and finish Kevin.
Another possibility is 'P' - maybe Sanderson‘s Pittsburgh Works?
Our only hope would be to find original Hunter Arms, Fox, Ithaca, N.R. Davis or Lefever purchase orders for rough forged tubes from Crucible or Sanderson Bros. - all have barrels with the SB&Co stamp. We have no idea why the T, G, F & P were added.
We can say with confidence that Sanderson/Crucible did NOT make the pattern welded or fluid steel tubes.

BTW Lefever damascus patterns are discussed (along with those of Colt) here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yv2zqYFQyHaKJdbcP1uRXmfNSxts-U4rRcxa1kDegrg/edit?tab=t.0

[Bill Murphy]

I've been fooling with Lefevers since I was 14 years old, now I'm 80. In 66 years, this is about the nicest find I can ever imagine. What a great gun.

[Brian Dudley]

Beautiful example!