Another Basket Case

[edgarspencer]

Fellow member, Keith Bedard, had his Grandfather's Nichols & Lefever stashed away in the back of his safe, and, on my suggestion, decided to send it to Brad Batcheldor. It just came back, and to say I was wowed would be an understatement. It left in the condition of George Purtill's grade 2. Broken stock, reinforcing plates screwed on to hold it together, cobbled up trigger guard, and just plain ugly.
On receipt, Brad told Keith the gun was rare enough to warrant a full restoration, and that is an understatement. Some people balk at the cost of doing such work, but assuming they own a gun as messed up as this one was, for little or no money, It's easy to justify the expense when you consider that no one would walk by a gun on the shelf in any shop for such a bargain.
Keith did his grandfather proud, and Brad made it happen.

[edgarspencer]

Here's a few more shots, but my camera work does not do Brad's work justice.

[edgarspencer]

Take a look at the fences behind the bolsters. This is a holdover from the percussion days. Such beautiful detail. I know I'm a dedicated Parker guy, but show me a happily married man that doesn't appreciate a beautiful woman. And my Parkers don't make me sleep in the guest room when I look at another gun.

[Dean Romig]

Beautiful gun Edgar. What ia that thumb operated thingy on the top tang? Is it the release to open the breech?

[George M. Purtill]

I can only hope my basket case guns turn out like that.
Sweet.

[Keith Bedard]

Thanks Edgar for posting those pictures. It is disappointing to me that i didnt take before pictures. I cant even begin to tell you how nice Edgar was being when he called it a basket case. I never dreamed this gun would ever amount to much. It was in the basement of my parents house and I used to look at it leaned up in the corner. The wood was black, there were two plates of thick steel with holes drilled right through the stock with bolts through it. Then someone, probably my grandfather wrapped it with what looked similar to electrical tape so the wrist was really fat. the rest of the gun was just covered in the nastiest oil. You couldnt see any detail in the gun other than the huge dent in the left barrel. I could not be more proud of this gun. The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner as this was my dads fathers gun and he passed away last year. I wish he could see it now.

[Bill Murphy]

Dean, yup, it's an opener that precedes the pivot lever Lefever opener. They could have left it alone, in my opinion. I know you like light bird guns and you seem to be interested in Lefevers. Look at gunbroker.com item number 328511577 before they erase it. It is one of the first two or three Lefever hammerless 16s, has the push lever, and well worth a look. I wonder who got lucky? By the way, it weighs 6 pounds, 5 ounces and is loaded up with color.

[edgarspencer]

Keith had done some research on Nichols and Lefever prior to getting the gun back from Brad. It appears the association was short lived, 1873-1876. This predates the practice of choke boring and the uncut barrels have no choke. I'm hoping Keith will bring it to Addieville. Maxi-Lites are just what the doctor ordered.

[Dean Romig]

Dean, yup, it's an opener that precedes the pivot lever Lefever opener. They could have left it alone, in my opinion. I know you like light bird guns and you seem to be interested in Lefevers. Look at gunbroker.com item number 328511577 before they erase it. It is one of the first two or three Lefever hammerless 16s, has the push lever, and well worth a look. I wonder who got lucky? By the way, it weighs 6 pounds, 5 ounces and is loaded up with color.


Bill, what a sweetheart that one is! Not knowing a whole lot about the values of LeFevers I probably would have paid more than that. Thank you for pointing me to it.

[Bill Murphy]

I will correct my description and say that it is probably one of the first two or three "self cocking hammerless" Lefever 16 gauges. From what I have been told, there are side lever cocking 16 gauges, but I don't know how many. I have not seen one of these. Whatever, it is one nice 127 year old bird gun.

[chris dawe]

I have to agree Mr.Murphy they made some fine bird guns,I have a real soft spot for Lefevers as well.But they're so rare up here I very rarely get to see one... but a friend of mine just brought in another G grade to my shop ,thinking my pivot G had the heaviest barrels I've ever seen was immediately put to rest after seeing his 32 inch 12 bore tubes with a min wall thickness at .68 and .111 plus muzzles !

Envy is a sin I know.

[Bill Zachow]

At one time I owned two Lefever side cocking 10 gauges--both presentation guns. Serials 4999 and 5000. I was not aware that they made any 16s. As with most of the guns that I have sold, I regret selling these. The engraving on 5000 was particularly awesome.

[Bill Murphy]

I was told about 16 gauge sidecockers when I inquired about the gunbroker gun. One of the "keepers of the numbers" alluded to 16 gauge sidecockers, but I have never seen one.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Brad is the guy to go to when you really need it done right!