Cold Spring,
Your comments on Lefever frame ejectors are spot on. They are very robust and reliable, in large part because they have few parts, and because forend ejector parts can only be made so stout.
This was Dan's final ejector design, which emerged in 1895 and was on all ejector guns from then until the end of the company 2 decades later. So, we're talking roughly the 23k serial range all the way until the end in the 73k range.
The first 2 patents Dan had on ejectors were from 1892 and 1894, and both were forend ejector designs. Both are quite rare, the 2nd being more so, because they incorporated a feature allowing the owner to turn the ejectors "on and off" by way of turning two screws on the end of the forearm.
In addition to these two patented forearm mechanisms, collectors have noted one or two other variations which appear experimental in nature...all in the 17k range, if memory serves.
While the forend ejector guns are very rare and collectible, the frame ejector mechanism is a far better design...hence its use for most of the company's life.
Among American gun makers, only John Browning has more patents than Dan Lefever. I think his failure as a business man, coupled with Ithaca's late acquisition of Lefever Arms, and subsequent pimping of the name on guns of their own design, have served to obfuscate history somewhat.
In my opinion, Parker, Smith and several others made wonderful guns. But in terms of design, fit and finish, Dan Lefever's best are in a league of their own. There are some Special Order Lefever's in the 16k-21k serial range which exceed Optimus grades in their opulence.
In their day they really were as good as ANY gun made in the world...including Purdey, Boss, etc.
Its a shame we dont have more of them.
NDG
|