Lefever CE Engraver
 

I traded for this gun a couple of weeks ago and am curious as to who may have done the engraving and the pattern of damascus? I know there is quite a bit of Lefever knowledge on this board,and would appreciate any insight.The S/N dates this gun to 1893.
Glenn

Hello James - Beautiful Lefever!

My best guess is that it looks like the work of Joseph Loy. I always look for his trademark eyes on dogs and those dogs look to be his - most especially the one on the trigger guard bow.





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Duplicate post...





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Lefever Arms Co. being in Syracuse, one or more members of the Glahn family would be a good bet. Joe Loy went to work at Remington in 1895, retiring in 1940 with 45 years service. A hell of a lot of Ithaca guns are attributed to Loy from long after he had gone to Ilion!!

Respectfully - Several noted engravers of the pre WW1 era are known to have free-lanced their work on their own time with other gun manufacturers. IMO this doesn’t look like Glahn’s work.





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See here a very similar pointer to the one on your gun. This gun is a B grade.

Attachment 96183

The serial number for this gun dates it to 1893, I realize the serial numbers are not exact on Lefever guns but if this gun actually is 1893 was Mr. Loy working for Lefever then, or Ithaca?
Glenn

Very similar indeed Brian as seen side by side.

That's a gorgeous LeFever..... I don't own one, but plan to some day.... Very nice, no matter who the engraver was.

The B grade I posted a photo of is an early thumb opener action. I think it was in the 10,000 serial range.

This looks like a Glahn engraved gun to me. The way the scrollwork terminates into a loosely gripped hand with fingers showing along with the scroll extensions the strike the outer backbone of the inner spine resemble several of Glahn's early work when he engraved for Parker and even more so later in life. Glahn also had two brothers that were engravers and probably engraved extremely similar in style to Glahn himself. Just my opinion though...

Could you please post a close-up of about 8" of barrel?
I think it is 4 Iron "Turkish Star" that got a bit messy at the thicker breech section.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Damascus/...rTurkish-L.jpg

My 8 gauge E looks very close to your gun.

Here is another picture, thanks for the help.
Glenn

This dog on my EE (SN 39263) would seem to be by the same engraver. The head looks to be very similar.

https://i.imgur.com/NJojl45.jpg

Yep, 4 Iron "Turkish Star". Very nice.

In all likelihood the original of that pointer was done by one of the master engravers and then was reproduced may times by various journeymen engravers.

FWIW the scroll on a couple of Spangler signed Lefevers I've saved pictures of, his scroll is very different from the OP's gun.

James- Just curious what type cocking hook does your gun have??

Years ago I owned a very nice EE Grade Lefever 16 gauge, but the detail and execution of the engraving was no where near as nice as the guns pictured!

It has a small hook cocking mechanism.
Glenn

A lot of differences in CE-Grade Lefevers. My gun is 30749, has drop points, less fancy profiled breechballs, but wings on the barrels --

Attachment 96200

This gun is 11 digits higher serial number is fairly similar but has double dogs in the scenes --

Attachment 96201

Dave - I love those double dogs (setters). Who do you believe engraved them?





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I am with Dean, I love the double dogs, really elaborate engraving on that one, the engraver really went all out on that gun. My gun is in the 20,000 serial range.
Glenn