doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com L. Barber and Lefever shotguns- info and rarity?

Does anyone know how many guns Lefever and Barber combined to make? Are these guns relatively collectible? Thanks

Alex

from Uncle Dan Lefever Master Gunmaker by Robert Elliott the parternship of Lorenzo Barber and Daniel Myron Lefever was brief(1874-1876) with guns serial numbered from 90-400.
So I expect surviving samples are rare, indeed.
Jeff

I saw one of these many years ago owned by a Louisville, KY collector. A very beatiful gun, 10ga with, "I Think" about 28" bbls, straight stock, & of a field wt. As I handled it I could much more envision carrying it behind a pointing dog than into a duck blind. No doubt they were made in various weights though.

I have couple of the Barber & Lefever guns that have serial numbers. Also have a couple marked Barber & Lefever that I believe are conversion guns. I believe they did both

Any other comments as to the collectability of these guns would be appreciated.

All I can tell you is that this particular gun is few and far apart. I would think the boys over on the Lefever boatd could give you some idea --- depending on the condition & etc. Ken

StormsGSP Well, not many made....an early stage of Lefever's evolution.....Put it this way, if I saw one at an auction I would be very interested. Do you know where one is available?

Jeff

Hello
Barber and Lefevers are not common but I would call them rare. I see about one or two a year for sale. They built around 300 of them from 1874 to 1876. Some are confersion guns and others are guns that they built. I have 37 guns on my list and they range from #5081 to #5393. Keep in mind there are some Nichol & Lefever guns in the low #53XX range.
Lefevers that are rarer than Barber Lefevers are Ellis and Lefevers 7 recorded, Dangerfield and Lefevers 12 recorded, John Nichols guns, JW Livingstone guns, and Auburn lefevers.
Bob

Thanks for the comments Gentlemen. The gun in question is an early 5xxx gun. 10 ga with 26 in" tubes, apparently uncut. Beautiful damascus pattern look like its in great shape. Also has an interesting push button release for the action. I'll try to get some good pics up soon.