LeFever H Grade

[George Davis]

Does anyone have the records for LeFevers?
I have a H Grade damascus barreled serial number # 33169 which is nothing special but a very clean shooter. Wondering year of production?
Thank you for any help you can provide.

[Dean Romig]

The vast majority of LeFever factory records were lost to a fire at the factory long ago.





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[Michael Kitterman]

I am a Lefever collector, what info I have indicates a manufacture date of 1900-1901.

[Nick de Guerre]

George,

Damascus or Twist? H grades usually came with Twist, with some very late exceptions. Presumably 12 gauge?

NDG

[George Davis]

Damascus, currently at Bachelders being redone.

[Brian Dudley]

H grades are typically twist steel. But with lefevers there can be many variances.

[Nick de Guerre]

Lefevers are coming out of the wood work lately. In just the last week we've seen:

(1) a hammer A grade
(2) a late B grade
(3) a previously unknown Optimus

plus two high grade fakes

- NDG

[Dean Romig]

Lefevers are coming out of the wood work lately. In just the last week we've seen:

(1) a hammer A grade
(2) a late B grade
(3) a previously unknown Optimus

plus two high grade fakes

- NDG

That is one of the major problems of missing or destroyed factory records... fakes and upgrades.




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[Bob Decker]

This is why the Lefever Arms Collectors Association is actively collecting serial numbers and any other available information on Lefever guns. To confirm, yes the records are lost. I don't know about any fire, I think they were probably just tossed after the acquisition by Ithaca Gun Co. in 1916. Ithaca had no use for or interest in the old Lefever records and they were simply lost. Regardless, the information we do have on Lefever serial numbers is the result of individuals collecting numbers and dates. We are always happy to record the serial number of your Lefevers at: laca@hughes.net

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Bob - I had read that it was a fire but I’ll defer to your information.

Best, Dean





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[George Davis]

I was unable to attend the Las Vegas Show this year but have seen the beautiful G Grade which was purchased by William Larkin Moore. What a find gun looks like it came out of the factory yesterday.
We all have gun(s) we regret selling and one of mine was a mint condition E Grade.

[Michael Kitterman]

My H has twist and is dated to 1897.

[Rich Anderson]

I have a 16ga upgraded Optimus. I have provided the serial number to the organization. Regardless of upgrade or not it's by far one of the nicest guns I own.

[charlie cleveland]

how about a picture of that fine lefever c.o.b........charlie

[Rich Anderson]

These are the only two I have on the lap top.

[Bob Decker]

Thanks Bob - I had read that it was a fire but I’ll defer to your information.

Best, Dean





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Dean, The 2 fires of significance in the Lefever history are the ones that terminated the Dangerfield and Lefever operations in Auburn, NY in 1874 and the one that basically terminated the D. M. Lefever Co.'s sidecocker operations and led to the formation of the Lefever Arms Co. in Syracuse, NY in 1883. Neither would have had any affect on the Lefever records we are talking about. If there was a fire at the Ithaca factory where records were kept after the acquisition by Ithaca Gun Co. I am not aware of it (that doesn't mean it couldn't have happened as I have not thoroughly studied the history of the Ithaca Gun Co.).

[Brian Dudley]

I think a "fire" is common catch-all term associated with missing records. Didn't LC Smith have a "Fire" too. Or maybe they actually did... not sure.