LeFever H Grade
 

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.

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





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

George,

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

NDG

Damascus, currently at Bachelders being redone.

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

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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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

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

Best, Dean





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