Guns that you turned your nose to but have changed your mind

[B. Dudley]

The Lefever A grades are very nice guns. They dressed up the nitro special in just the right way.

[J. A. EARLY]

I like all of the "lower grade" guns. Lefever Nitro Special, Ithaca Flues, early Stevens with walnut and checkering, Winchester 24, Iver Johnson Hercules, Crescent, etc., and never hesitate to add these working class guns, fix them up and enjoy them. They brought home the game for millions of American hunters who could afford more than a single barrel. Especially when in 16 or smaller.

[Double Lab]

This was'nt a utility grade per se Craig but many moons ago I turned down a Win. M21 cased 2 barrel set in 20 ga., 26" and 28" because I'll admit I was a Parker snob at the time. I had the money and it was for sale for cheap money at the time.:bang head:

I still have the Stevens 311 20 ga. that my father bought for me and I take it out for a spin now and then. Just a really solid, albeit rough gun, that is still dear to me after 50 years.

[Double Lab]

This was'nt a utility grade per se Craig but many moons ago I turned down a Win. M21 cased 2 barrel set in 20 ga., 26" and 28" because I'll admit I was a Parker snob at the time. I had the money and it was for sale for cheap money at the time.:bang head:

I still have the Stevens 311 20 ga. that my father bought for me and I take it out for a spin now and then. Just a really solid, albeit rough gun, that is still dear to me after 50 years.

[George "Scott" Davis]

First started shooting/collecting doubles I walked by many Fox Sterlingworths.
Today 2 of my most prized "hunters" are my 1913 16 gauge and 1920 12 gauge. I've hunted multiple states and killed many upland game birds with those two guns. The only double I've had on Huns was the 16 gauge and last year in Montana, I accomplished the same on late season pheasant with the 12 gauge.

[Bill Jolliff]

I think for many of us, it gives us our first taste of side by side shotguns.

I started with a 12 gauge Ithaca Nitro Special. Then I found I needed a side by side 20 gauge and in shopping for that, I discovered Fox doubles were pretty darn nice. Parkers too.

And that's how it started about 60 years ago.

What a ride!

[John Wayman]

Craig, hard to discount those guns completely. They all put food on the table. Most all of them got used hard, I bet, so to find a good example now is no easy feat. Some makers built so many utility guns that it may color how folks view the company in general. Ithaca made something like 250000 field grade guns,but their high grade guns are beautify done. You know I’m biased !!

[Joe from MO]

I bought this 16ga Lefever Nitro for my Son, as a present for graduation from the Navy's Nuclear program..... I bought him this gun for 2 reasons....

1. It's built like a tank and can handle any off the shelf 16ga shells(no steel shot)
2. It is a "working mans" gun, that was in all but brand new condition.

I paid $600 for it if I remember right, last year saw one that was identical to it sell for well over 1K on GB. At the time, I was concerned I'd paid too much for a Nitro... But, after watching that auction, felt better about it.