Lefever Nitro Express

[Mike Franzen]

Wayne, I can tell the Parker Fever you recently contracted has turned into a full blown case of Double Barrel Mania. You see what the rest of your life is going to be like? You won't be able to stay out of gun shops, pawn shops, flea markets, auctions or websites. There are even reports coming in now that there is new strain affecting those of us who have this condition and it drives the sufferer to using yard sales to relieve the cravings. That "Lay Away" tactic only serves to make things worse I'll bet a round of drinks he can't leave that beautiful, gorgeous, hard shooting, much coveted Nitro in Lay Away til the end of the month

[Wayne Johnson]

Mike the problem is I have a Ruth Christs taste on a 7-11 hot dog budget.

[Researcher]

Lefever Arms Co. of Syracuse, New York, was bought out by a shell corporation in early 1916, and all the assets and the rights to use the Lefever name in the manufacture of shotguns was moved to Ithaca. A short time later ownership of this corporation, Lefever Arms Co., Inc. was transferred to the owners of Ithaca Gun Co. -- George Livermore, Louis Smith, Claude Smith, Paul Livermore and Eunice Smith. Through 1919, this corporation, operating within the plant of Ithaca Gun Co. finished and sold off the remaining inventory of side-plate Lefever guns. In 1921, this corporation introduced the lower priced Lefever Nitro Special, still operating as a separate corporation. The Nitro Special was introduced in 12-, 16-, and 20-gauges. In 1926, a .410-bore version was added to the line. The Model 2 single barrel and the Model 3 SBT were added to the Lefever line in 1927, and the Model 4 double barrel vent rib trap gun in 1929. Also in 1929, the family formed another corporation, Western Arms Corp., to build an even lower priced double the Long Range Double. Lefever and Western continued to operate as separate corporations into 1933. By 1934, Lefever and Western guns are marked as being made by the Lefever or Western Branches of Ithaca Gun Co., Inc.

Ithaca built 16-gauge doubles were normally chambered for the 2 9/16 inch shells through 1933. The 1934 catalogues begin stating they are chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells. You gave the serial number as 2580x. I'm sure you meant 2580xx. Lefever Nitro Special serial numbers began at 100000.

The wood on that Lefever Nitro Special certainly isn't what it left Fall Creek Water Power Lot #6 with. A 1928 Lefever Nitro Special would look like this --



About 1931, the Lefever Nitro Specials got a capped pistol grip stock --



Very late in production they gave the Nitro Special a more nicely profiled receiver, like this 1937 gun --

[charlie cleveland]

very nice ...i too like all of the old nitro express guns but then if its got a trigger i like it..always wanted me a long range single barrel 410 but just never followed through... charlie

[OH Osthaus]

I had not seen that later profile before -does add some looks to the gun

[BRDHNTR]

I sold a 16 ga nitro special that was near mint 2 years ago to a fellow club member. Practically had to give it away for $300. Doubles just don't sell much in this neighberhood.

[Jack Kuzepski]

Charlie,

I have both a Lefever SXS 410 and a Long Range Field and Trap single 410. They are both nice, but that single shot can really reach out there even though it only has a 2-1/2" chamber. If you get the chance to get one, get it as there weren't many made.

Jack Kuzepski

[Researcher]

Ithaca's Harry E. Howland said of the Lefever Long Range Single-Barrel Field & Trap "I think it was the poorest gun I ever helped design, although we sold over 16,000 of them before we discontinued manufacturing them."

[Jack Kuzepski]

Dave,

I thought I saw in Walt's Ithaca book they made just under 25,000 of the single shots.

Jack Kuzepski

[Researcher]

On page 103 Walter says "over 24,000 were produced". Harry's comment that I quoted above is on page 207.