doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lefever 16ga - two barrel set- damascus and steel?

I met an 84 yr old gentlemen and I commented on a photo he had of a setter. A long conversation on bird hunting turned to guns. He offered to sell me a Lefever 16 ga, two barrel set. One barrel was damascus 26 in and the other a steel barrel 28in. Double triggers, straight stock. 14 1/4 lop. I have never heard of a two barrel set with damascus and steel. He said they came as a set? The only numbers on the bottom of the barrels is 57242 and it was stamped on both barrels (although very hard to read) I did not take the barrel off the gun to see any other numbers. The unfortunate part is the gun is in very poor condition. Rust all over the gun. My hands were orange after handling it but the bores seemed very good. Any ideas if this is worth anything or even if this could be a real set??

Any idea of the grade? I guess it could be a set, but I'd think the steel is a add on. Prolly the damascus barrels are possibly cut. It would be worth something, depends on grade and soundness of the barrel. Sounds like a nice find, good luck if you decide to purchase.

I don't see why they couldn't have come as a set, one steel, one Damascus, particularly in that later serial # range. Often there is a second serial # for barrel set # 2, or one SN on the right barrel and another on the left on both sets. I think it's unusual that there would be only one serial number on both barrel sets. Anyway, if the barrel wall thicknesses and bores are good, the rest of it can be cleaned up. Nice find. Check for serial numbers on the back side of the extractors/ejectors. On both sets of barrels do they match the number you gave in your post? Good luck with it. If you buy this one and then get hooked on Lefevers, think about joining the Lefever Arms Collectors Association - 6 newsletters a year, $25 annual dues. Contact me for further info, if interested. Good luck. Rich

sidebyeach i sent you a PM. Bobby

While hard, positive, facts are somewhat hard to come up with on Lefevers, my guess from the fact it only has the one number on each bbl, might be an indication they did in fact come as a set. It appears that when a gun went back to the factory for a 2nd set or an "Upgrade" to a later action type it was customary to add a 2nd SN. Does this gun have an '07 patent among the ones on trigger plate. If not is likely an '06 gun. Appears to be an H or G, hard to say for sure from the pics. Just looking at the pics doesn't appear likely to be deeply pitted, may well just be mostly cosmetic damage, of course that would have to be considered in the price, but may not affect it's shoot-a-bility.

Thanks for the info. What is this gun worth in this condition?What is a H or G in good condition worth? Is this gun worth restoring? Any ideas on who to have it restored by (if I deceide to buy it)? Anyone in NewEngland?

First, are you sure one's damascus and the other is fluid?

Second, I think it may be an F.

As for restoring it - it can't be done. Generally, guns can't be restored, especially old American shotguns. All you can do is refinish them. Then they look refinished, not restored to new.

Personally, I prefer to leave them as original as possible.

That gun already has a refinished butt stock. It may be converted from PG, too, but I can't tell from the pics.

The bbls may or may not be a problem. I would clean it up and leave it at that. I know a guy in Portsmouth who can do it (same guy our very tall mutual friend uses) . This guy has a Lefever EE in his shop right now in similiar shape.

As for value, if the bbls are good, I'd say $1500 - $2000 after it's all cleaned up, maybe some more if it cleans up well.

OWD

I think around the turn of the last century Damascus was the common steel used in barrels, when fluid steel came some were sceptical to chanage over to the later. They knew Damascus worked but didn't know that fluid steel would. Also could be a price factor. Not sure what fluid steel compared to Damascus was in price then.

Purchase value and refreshened value are two different things. This is what I call a 10 if gun. There are about 10 things on this gun that you could look at for value.And if yes or no is the answer it changes the value of the gun. If all ten were yes then the gun cuiold be restored to the top figure value of $2,000.00. It might cost you two thirds or more of that to get ther work done. If the answerw are mostly no then the gun is scrap and worht just a few hunder.

1 barrels or bores pitted
2 ribs tight
3 both barrels fit properly with the forend
4 any cracks in the stock
5 is the straight stock a converted pistol grip stock and is it well done if so.
6 any external pitting or dents in the barrels
7 is the stock oil soaked
8 is the gun on face
9 other than the external rust has the gun been cared for well
10 do you like the gun as is if refinished or are you looking for a higher grade gun and just willing to settle for this one.

If you can answer all of these question and find that the gun is a solid gun with just a few surface problems buy the gun. But if you intend to have it refinished by others you ought to get a ball park figure what that will cost and deduct that from the price as best you can. Not telling you to steal the gun but do not pay $1,500.00 for a gun that you may end up with $2,500-3,000.00 in before you are done.

BTW: I just doublechecked the grade in the Lefever book. I think 2-piper is right - it's a G or H grade gun.

OWD