EXCEPTIONAL LEFEVER “B” GRADE SIDE COCKING DRILLING, EX-JOHN AMBER COLLECTION, WITH CASE.

SN 6661. Cal. 16 ga x 16 ga x 40-70. This fine, early, exceedingly rare Lefever offering has what appears to be original 27-3/4″ fine Damascus shotgun bbls with steel rifle bbl mounted as top rib. Top rear of this bbl is engraved “LEFEVER ARMS CO. MAKERS and PATENTEES SYRACUSE N.Y.” behind small rectangular base holding flip-over express type sight. German silver blade front sight is also soldered to top bbl. Bottom of left shotgun bbl is stamped with SN and an additional number “9137”. A broad sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Case hardened hammerless sidelock action with long cocking lever on left side, features Lefever’s compensating features with split lump and ball and socket hinge joint, as well as long push-up bbl release lever on top tang, which is also fitted with a small Lyman type folding aperture rear sight, with screw adjustment for elevation. Action also features an unusual grip safety, typical Lefever cocking indicators, and double triggers. It appears that rifle bbl is fired by rear trigger. Opening lever retracts dual forward sliding pins that engage shotgun bbls either side of rifle bbl. Action is engraved with about 30% coverage of various sized well cut scroll. This scroll is counterpoint to exceptionally well detailed dogs in field settings on lockplates; with pointer and setter on left plate, and a pair of setters on right. Trigger guard bow depicts a running buck and doe. The front of each lockplate is engraved “D. M. LEFEVER HAMMERLESS” “Pat. June 20, 1880”. Trigger plate is engraved “Patented 1872-78″. Fine flaming stump figured dense American walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14″ over checkered horn buttplate with spur. Horn grip cap has dimpled edges. Comb is thin and beautifully fluted. Scallop patterned checkering has line border. There are spade shaped drop points behind lockplates. Matching splinter forend has inset slightly schnabeled horn tip and push button release, and is fitted with very early Lefever cam to actuate extractors. Bore diameter: left -.678, right -.678. Bore restrictions: left -.018 (Mod), right -.013 (Lt Mod). Minimum wall thickness: left -.042, right -.047. Drop at heel: approx 3-1/2″, drop at comb: approx 2-1/4″. Weight: 9 lbs 4 oz. LOP: 14”. Old leather case inked in “Bran??l” on top, is lined in green cloth, and contains orig key with tag, marked “Lefever 16 x 16 x 40-70 BGT. at Luce sale”. PROVENANCE: Reported to be made for Henry Cabot Lodge, with old photographs attributing same. John Amber pictured holding it in the Gun Digest 1981 p. 19, gun is pictured on p. 25. Framed Gold Medal Concours bronze medal certificate at 2005 Vintage Cup for Vintage American SXS. It is pictured on p. 48 of LEFEVER GUNS OF LASTING FAME, 2nd edn. Old photo by David Trevallion of the gun and its case in front of a photo of David Trevallion with John Amber, with cover letter. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain 70 – 80% orig brown, with fine definition to Damascus pattern, silvered at muzzles, and thinning toward breech ends above forend from normal hand wear. Action retains 20 – 30% faded orig case hardening color, mostly silver gray toning to brown on bottom. Left lockplate retains over 80% orig color, as it is protected by side lever. Right lockplate retains 40%. Stocks retain 80% orig French polish finish with a number of light scratches and marks. Checkering is slightly worn at grip, more so on forend. Bores are excellent with some scattered light pitting, and there is evidence of a few dents being removed. Rifle bore is bright and shiny throughout, with a few pits about 4″ in front of chamber. Case leather is water marked, stained, and has many marks and scrapes. Old straps are fair with some repairs. Handle is good. Interior cloth is partially detached, has insect damage, and is somewhat tattered and worn with some rubs through. The holy grail for Lefever collectors. 4-54764 (40,000-60,000) – Lot 2611

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Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2611	$46,000.00	EXCEPTIONAL LEFEVER “B” GRADE SIDE COCKING DRILLING, EX-JOHN AMBER COLLECTION, WITH CASE. SN 6661. Cal. 16 ga x 16 ga x 40-70. This fine, early, exceedingly rare Lefever offering has what appears to be original 27-3/4″ fine Damascus shotgun bbls with steel rifle bbl mounted as top rib. Top rear of this bbl is engraved “LEFEVER ARMS CO. MAKERS and PATENTEES SYRACUSE N.Y.” behind small rectangular base holding flip-over express type sight. German silver blade front sight is also soldered to top bbl. Bottom of left shotgun bbl is stamped with SN and an additional number “9137”. A broad sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Case hardened hammerless sidelock action with long cocking lever on left side, features Lefever’s compensating features with split lump and ball and socket hinge joint, as well as long push-up bbl release lever on top tang, which is also fitted with a small Lyman type folding aperture rear sight, with screw adjustment for elevation. Action also features an unusual grip safety, typical Lefever cocking indicators, and double triggers. It appears that rifle bbl is fired by rear trigger. Opening lever retracts dual forward sliding pins that engage shotgun bbls either side of rifle bbl. Action is engraved with about 30% coverage of various sized well cut scroll. This scroll is counterpoint to exceptionally well detailed dogs in field settings on lockplates; with pointer and setter on left plate, and a pair of setters on right. Trigger guard bow depicts a running buck and doe. The front of each lockplate is engraved “D. M. LEFEVER HAMMERLESS” “Pat. June 20, 1880”. Trigger plate is engraved “Patented 1872-78″. Fine flaming stump figured dense American walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14″ over checkered horn buttplate with spur. Horn grip cap has dimpled edges. Comb is thin and beautifully fluted. Scallop patterned checkering has line border. There are spade shaped drop points behind lockplates. Matching splinter forend has inset slightly schnabeled horn tip and push button release, and is fitted with very early Lefever cam to actuate extractors. Bore diameter: left -.678, right -.678. Bore restrictions: left -.018 (Mod), right -.013 (Lt Mod). Minimum wall thickness: left -.042, right -.047. Drop at heel: approx 3-1/2″, drop at comb: approx 2-1/4″. Weight: 9 lbs 4 oz. LOP: 14”. Old leather case inked in “Bran??l” on top, is lined in green cloth, and contains orig key with tag, marked “Lefever 16 x 16 x 40-70 BGT. at Luce sale”. PROVENANCE: Reported to be made for Henry Cabot Lodge, with old photographs attributing same. John Amber pictured holding it in the Gun Digest 1981 p. 19, gun is pictured on p. 25. Framed Gold Medal Concours bronze medal certificate at 2005 Vintage Cup for Vintage American SXS. It is pictured on p. 48 of LEFEVER GUNS OF LASTING FAME, 2nd edn. Old photo by David Trevallion of the gun and its case in front of a photo of David Trevallion with John Amber, with cover letter. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain 70 – 80% orig brown, with fine definition to Damascus pattern, silvered at muzzles, and thinning toward breech ends above forend from normal hand wear. Action retains 20 – 30% faded orig case hardening color, mostly silver gray toning to brown on bottom. Left lockplate retains over 80% orig color, as it is protected by side lever. Right lockplate retains 40%. Stocks retain 80% orig French polish finish with a number of light scratches and marks. Checkering is slightly worn at grip, more so on forend. Bores are excellent with some scattered light pitting, and there is evidence of a few dents being removed. Rifle bore is bright and shiny throughout, with a few pits about 4″ in front of chamber. Case leather is water marked, stained, and has many marks and scrapes. Old straps are fair with some repairs. Handle is good. Interior cloth is partially detached, has insect damage, and is somewhat tattered and worn with some rubs through. The holy grail for Lefever collectors. 4-54764 (40,000-60,000) – Lot 2611 \| Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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EXCEPTIONAL LEFEVER “B” GRADE SIDE COCKING DRILLING, EX-JOHN AMBER COLLECTION, WITH CASE.