GGP'S Lefever Side By Side

rangermonroe · June 25, 2005, 08:14 PM

Two triggers, and the side plates have a duck/goose taking off from a marsh, Looks to be stamped, rather than engraved.

216368 is the number in the receiver, and 12 on the other side

Any info?

Jim Watson · June 25, 2005, 10:12 PM

Are those the ONLY markings?
Sounds like a Lefever Nitro Special, which was the cheap Ithaca, not really related to any of Mr Lefever's several companies.

rangermonroe · June 25, 2005, 10:37 PM

Sorry, I edited my post, and left off the important stuff....

Lefever Arms CO, Ithica NY & Lefever Nitro Special

Thanks Jim

Jim Watson · June 26, 2005, 08:22 AM

According to Blue Book, Lefever Arms made guns from 1885 til 1916 when Ithaca bought them out. Although they say that Ithaca "kept Lefever shotguns in production" I think that when the Nitro Special was introduced in 1921 that they were only getting some advertising value out of the name, the NS has little if anything in common with Lefever designed guns. In 1934 Ithaca brought out the Lefever Grade A, which I have never seen and know nothing about.

Mr Lefever started up another company of his own, D.M. Lefever & Son, but it did not last long and those guns are scarce and expensive.

HunterTRW · June 26, 2005, 05:20 PM

Mr. Watson is correct.

In his book titled Best Guns author Michael McIntosh had this to say on the subject:

"In 1921, Ithaca brought out the Lefever Nitro Special, a modest gun that sold for $29. It was a sturdy utility piece bearing the unmistakable mark of Ithaca design and had little in common with its predecessors aside from the Lefever name. Serial numbers began at 100000.

"It may not have been beautiful, but the Nitro Special was tough. Factory records refer to it as the first gun Ithaca designed specifically for modern ammunition, and an advertising flyer dated February 15, 1922, says that the first lock was dry-fired more than 77,000 times and the first gun fired some 100,000 times without any malfunctions...

"The earliest Nitro Specials were available in 12, 16, and 20 gauges. In 12-gauge there was a choice of 28- or 30-inch barrels; the others were 28 inches only. The right barrel could be bored modified or cylinder and the left modified or full. The black walnut stocks were of industry-standard dimensions with no special factory alterations available."

According to author McIntosh, the Nitro Special went out of production in 1948 along with all the rest of Ithaca's doubles.

Hope this helps.

Good luck, and good shooting!

June 25, 2005, 08:14 PM	#1
rangermonroe Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2005 Location: savannah Posts: 758	GGP'S Lefever Side By Side Two triggers, and the side plates have a duck/goose taking off from a marsh, Looks to be stamped, rather than engraved. 216368 is the number in the receiver, and 12 on the other side Any info?

June 26, 2005, 05:20 PM	#5
HunterTRW Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2004 Location: The Lower Forty of Hill Country Posts: 177	Mr. Watson is correct. In his book titled Best Guns author Michael McIntosh had this to say on the subject: "In 1921, Ithaca brought out the Lefever Nitro Special, a modest gun that sold for $29. It was a sturdy utility piece bearing the unmistakable mark of Ithaca design and had little in common with its predecessors aside from the Lefever name. Serial numbers began at 100000. "It may not have been beautiful, but the Nitro Special was tough. Factory records refer to it as the first gun Ithaca designed specifically for modern ammunition, and an advertising flyer dated February 15, 1922, says that the first lock was dry-fired more than 77,000 times and the first gun fired some 100,000 times without any malfunctions... "The earliest Nitro Specials were available in 12, 16, and 20 gauges. In 12-gauge there was a choice of 28- or 30-inch barrels; the others were 28 inches only. The right barrel could be bored modified or cylinder and the left modified or full. The black walnut stocks were of industry-standard dimensions with no special factory alterations available." According to author McIntosh, the Nitro Special went out of production in 1948 along with all the rest of Ithaca's doubles. Hope this helps. Good luck, and good shooting! __________________ "If we're all thinking alike, somebody isn't thinking." General George S. Patton, Jr.

June 25, 2005, 10:12 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	Are those the ONLY markings? Sounds like a Lefever Nitro Special, which was the cheap Ithaca, not really related to any of Mr Lefever's several companies.

June 25, 2005, 10:37 PM	#3
rangermonroe Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2005 Location: savannah Posts: 758	Sorry, I edited my post, and left off the important stuff.... Lefever Arms CO, Ithica NY & Lefever Nitro Special Thanks Jim

June 26, 2005, 08:22 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	According to Blue Book, Lefever Arms made guns from 1885 til 1916 when Ithaca bought them out. Although they say that Ithaca "kept Lefever shotguns in production" I think that when the Nitro Special was introduced in 1921 that they were only getting some advertising value out of the name, the NS has little if anything in common with Lefever designed guns. In 1934 Ithaca brought out the Lefever Grade A, which I have never seen and know nothing about. Mr Lefever started up another company of his own, D.M. Lefever & Son, but it did not last long and those guns are scarce and expensive.