*RARE LEFEVER THOUSAND DOLLAR GRADE (STYLE) SHOTGUN.

*RARE LEFEVER THOUSAND DOLLAR GRADE (STYLE) SHOTGUN. SN 34497. Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. The “Thousand Dollar” grade is described in the 1910 Lefever catalog as follows: “This grade is built to suit any special requirement of the shooter, and is the finest gun that can be made at any price. We show no cut of the “Thousand Dollar” grade as sportsmen’s requirements vary to such an extent in a gun of this grade, that we prefer to build the gun exactly to their specifications.” This gun, with a list price of $1000.00 is $600.00 higher than the Optimus grade, priced at $400.00. At this time the Parker A1 Special and the L C Smith A3 were priced at $750.00. Few “Thousand Dollar” grades are known to exist. This example has 30″ bbls with flat, matted rib, mounted with two ivory beads, and are engraved “Lefever Arms Co.” and “Whitworth Fluid Steel” on tops. Breech ends have raised cyma curved bolsters, and 1-1/4″ triangles of engraved acanthus and scroll set off by scrolled gold wire inlay. There are geometric bands of engraving around muzzles with an acanthus flourish on bottom rib. Bbl flats are brightly polished but unmarked. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with Whitworth sheaf of wheat trademarks, left bbl with SN. Late style ejector action with one piece cocking hook/ extractor cam, is gold inlaid on water table “1000” on left side, and stamped with SN on right. Action features standard cocking indicators and checkered gold-plated triggers. Action is engraved with full coverage exceptionally well cut and shaded medium scroll interspersed with larger scroll, within geometric and knot-work borders. Beads are beautifully filed with cove moldings, which are geometrically engraved and gold washed. Outer beads are exquisitely engraved with fern leaves. Gold inlay on the action is extensive with wire highlights on large tendrils of scroll and around lump hole. Outer beads have beautifully detailed flowers and there is foliate counterpoint to areas of scroll on body of action. A gold inlaid, semi relief grouse perches on branch on bottom of action, and a quail is in oval on trigger plate. Fences are relief engraved with three classic stylized shamrocks with gold counterpoint at centers. Delicately stippled background is gold washed. Top lever has nicely filed gold washed moldings at bottom of thumbpiece. A flying gold pigeon surrounded by gold wire is on pivot. Top tang without safety has more gold inlaid foliage and fine engraving. The lockplates have very fine detailed vignettes of gun dogs in ovals, surrounded by two bands of gold wire and an intricate gold washed foliate band. Larger scrolls on plates have gold wire accents which continue on to rebated tails. “LEFEVER ARMS CO” is in gold wire outlined rectangular devices with gold inlaid and engraved foliate ends. Beaded borders of lockplate have each bead individually gold inlaid. Matching trigger guard has relief gold inlaid setter on bow with gold wire surround. SN is beautifully gold inlaid on trigger guard tang, which extends to dimpled horn grip cap with inlet crenelated gold plate engraved “1000”. The quality of all this work is beyond compare, eclipsing all competitors. Beautifully marbled European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/8″ over old Silver pad. Stock features classic ivory dot accented horn “clock hand” drop points and beautifully executed borderless checkering in fancy pattern of two different spacings separated by scrolled ribbon, as well as large flourish of checkering extending toward comb of stock. A relief engraved gold shield with monogram “TS” is on toe line. Splinter forend has fleur-di-lis checkering with multiple ribbons, fancy hard rubber tip. Release cover is engraved to match action, with gold inlaid portrait of spaniel on central circle. Release is of friction type. IMPORTANT NOTE: There has been much debate about whether this is a genuine $1000 Grade. As a result of much examination and careful consideration we warrant that this is a genuine high grade Lefever shotgun with exquisite original Lefever engraving. What we cannot and will not guarantee is the gold “1000” inlay on the watertable and we cannot and will not guarantee all of the gold inlays throughout the gun. Bore diameter: left-.730, right -.731. Bore restrictions: left -.031 (Full), right -.032 (Full). Wall thickness: left -.030, right -.033. Drop at heel: 2-1/8″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 8 lbs. 0 oz. LOP: 14-1/8″. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbls retain 80% of what appears to be their orig blue, with a number of light marks, thinning considerably above forend, at natural hold point with some rubs. Action retains a considerable amount of its orig case hardening color, exact percentage difficult to assess because of extent of engraving and gold wash. Case hardening on water table is over 90%. Breech faces show traces of color, and considerable erosion around firing pin holes. Cocking hook and ejectors retain all their mirror polish. Gold wash on fences and beads is beginning to thin. Gold inlay shows a number of light marks and scratches. Buttstock retains most of what appears to be its orig high gloss finish. Checkering has considerable wear, and has not been re-cut. Orig pad has been “cleaned up”. Forend wood has been replaced and retains most of its orig finish, checkering excellent, but dark. (It appears from wear pattern on bbls that gun was fitted with a beavertail forend for a while.) Metal parts of forend are original. Bores are excellent, bright with some minor light striations. Action is tight. Ejectors are in time. An incredibly rare “over the top” American classic. The “Holy Grail” of Lefevers, akin to the “Invincible” to the Parker fraternity. 4-48886 MGM164 (40,000-60,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013

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
	1417	$63,250.00	RARE LEFEVER THOUSAND DOLLAR GRADE (STYLE) SHOTGUN. SN 34497. Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. The “Thousand Dollar” grade is described in the 1910 Lefever catalog as follows: “This grade is built to suit any special requirement of the shooter, and is the finest gun that can be made at any price. We show no cut of the “Thousand Dollar” grade as sportsmen’s requirements vary to such an extent in a gun of this grade, that we prefer to build the gun exactly to their specifications.” This gun, with a list price of $1000.00 is $600.00 higher than the Optimus grade, priced at $400.00. At this time the Parker A1 Special and the L C Smith A3 were priced at $750.00. Few “Thousand Dollar” grades are known to exist. This example has 30″ bbls with flat, matted rib, mounted with two ivory beads, and are engraved “Lefever Arms Co.” and “Whitworth Fluid Steel” on tops. Breech ends have raised cyma curved bolsters, and 1-1/4″ triangles of engraved acanthus and scroll set off by scrolled gold wire inlay. There are geometric bands of engraving around muzzles with an acanthus flourish on bottom rib. Bbl flats are brightly polished but unmarked. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with Whitworth sheaf of wheat trademarks, left bbl with SN. Late style ejector action with one piece cocking hook/ extractor cam, is gold inlaid on water table “1000” on left side, and stamped with SN on right. Action features standard cocking indicators and checkered gold-plated triggers. Action is engraved with full coverage exceptionally well cut and shaded medium scroll interspersed with larger scroll, within geometric and knot-work borders. Beads are beautifully filed with cove moldings, which are geometrically engraved and gold washed. Outer beads are exquisitely engraved with fern leaves. Gold inlay on the action is extensive with wire highlights on large tendrils of scroll and around lump hole. Outer beads have beautifully detailed flowers and there is foliate counterpoint to areas of scroll on body of action. A gold inlaid, semi relief grouse perches on branch on bottom of action, and a quail is in oval on trigger plate. Fences are relief engraved with three classic stylized shamrocks with gold counterpoint at centers. Delicately stippled background is gold washed. Top lever has nicely filed gold washed moldings at bottom of thumbpiece. A flying gold pigeon surrounded by gold wire is on pivot. Top tang without safety has more gold inlaid foliage and fine engraving. The lockplates have very fine detailed vignettes of gun dogs in ovals, surrounded by two bands of gold wire and an intricate gold washed foliate band. Larger scrolls on plates have gold wire accents which continue on to rebated tails. “LEFEVER ARMS CO” is in gold wire outlined rectangular devices with gold inlaid and engraved foliate ends. Beaded borders of lockplate have each bead individually gold inlaid. Matching trigger guard has relief gold inlaid setter on bow with gold wire surround. SN is beautifully gold inlaid on trigger guard tang, which extends to dimpled horn grip cap with inlet crenelated gold plate engraved “1000”. The quality of all this work is beyond compare, eclipsing all competitors. Beautifully marbled European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/8″ over old Silver pad. Stock features classic ivory dot accented horn “clock hand” drop points and beautifully executed borderless checkering in fancy pattern of two different spacings separated by scrolled ribbon, as well as large flourish of checkering extending toward comb of stock. A relief engraved gold shield with monogram “TS” is on toe line. Splinter forend has fleur-di-lis checkering with multiple ribbons, fancy hard rubber tip. Release cover is engraved to match action, with gold inlaid portrait of spaniel on central circle. Release is of friction type. IMPORTANT NOTE: There has been much debate about whether this is a genuine $1000 Grade. As a result of much examination and careful consideration we warrant that this is a genuine high grade Lefever shotgun with exquisite original Lefever engraving. What we cannot and will not guarantee is the gold “1000” inlay on the watertable and we cannot and will not guarantee all of the gold inlays throughout the gun. Bore diameter: left-.730, right -.731. Bore restrictions: left -.031 (Full), right -.032 (Full). Wall thickness: left -.030, right -.033. Drop at heel: 2-1/8″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 8 lbs. 0 oz. LOP: 14-1/8″. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbls retain 80% of what appears to be their orig blue, with a number of light marks, thinning considerably above forend, at natural hold point with some rubs. Action retains a considerable amount of its orig case hardening color, exact percentage difficult to assess because of extent of engraving and gold wash. Case hardening on water table is over 90%. Breech faces show traces of color, and considerable erosion around firing pin holes. Cocking hook and ejectors retain all their mirror polish. Gold wash on fences and beads is beginning to thin. Gold inlay shows a number of light marks and scratches. Buttstock retains most of what appears to be its orig high gloss finish. Checkering has considerable wear, and has not been re-cut. Orig pad has been “cleaned up”. Forend wood has been replaced and retains most of its orig finish, checkering excellent, but dark. (It appears from wear pattern on bbls that gun was fitted with a beavertail forend for a while.) Metal parts of forend are original. Bores are excellent, bright with some minor light striations. Action is tight. Ejectors are in time. An incredibly rare “over the top” American classic. The “Holy Grail” of Lefevers, akin to the “Invincible” to the Parker fraternity. 4-48886 MGM164 (40,000-60,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013 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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