doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Basket case Lefever Optimus

We need to discuss this particular auction.
In my opinion many of the items are underpriced for todays market.
The site is getting a tremendous volume of hits and has shut down several times while I was shopping.
I'm a little concerned that some of the owners of the deeper listings may have been convinced to offer their items at far too low a price, in order to generate greater interest in the auction. Or so it seems to me.

I think Bill's approach is the most worthwhile, and the one I'll probably take.

What do you guys think?

Nothing is being "offered" at any price. The estimated prices have nothing to do with what an item will bring at auction. Neither do the owners have control of the range of estimated prices which are created by the appraiser employed by the auction house. The final selling price of the Lefever in question will be up in the air until the hammer falls.

There's no doubt that the gun spent a number of years being owned by someone who knew it was 'fancy' but had no particular respect for fancy. Don't forget the average hunter likes to thumb his nose at things like engraving and pretty wood. Plus, in 1900 'fancy' meant high quality but by 1960 'fancy' had become a way to cover up cheapness.

Having spent more time around auctions then I care to admit I can tell you the following:
Setting estimates on the low side is a strategy used by many auction houses. This is done to convince potential bidders that the auction company does not know what items are worth and encourage a lot of active bidding. This is often an effective strategy for the auction house but,in this day and age,items usually sell at right around their true value.
Jim

I've bought more than few guns, recently, at auction that failed to make their minimum estimate.

If not an individual then maybe a worthy-admirable Guild (ACCG- FEGA) project.
As Bill says , someone will tackle it.

Given the interest shown by some here, I'd bet someone that really wants it will show up personally at the auction to ensure a realtime counterbid. It'd sure be the way I'd do it if I really wanted it.

"I've bought more than few guns, recently, at auction that failed to make their minimum estimate."

If you bid below the estimates, and never above them, then the only gun you will ever get are those who sell below the estimates. What I am saying is that if you like bargains and only bid on what you think of as bargains then the only guns you will ever buy will be those bargains that others missed or thought of as less of a bargain.

Russ called me a bit of a "bottom feeder" when I did this. Not a bad name just a fact. I have bought many guns for a few hundred dollars. Some were worth that and some were worth many times that amount.

Chuck H

I agree that someone is going to buy this gun and maybe try to fix it. They had better have deep pockets of a heck of a lot of personal skill and talent.

For the money that would end up in this gun don't you agree Ken's desire to bring back a Lefever, in the white gun, for people to finish or upgrade has a real future. I would rather drop 10-20K into one of those than this gun. Modern steels, clean slate to work with, a real bespoke gun if desired.

Courtesy of cc/dt

Lefever Arms Co. Optimus Grade
20b top, 12b bottom after repair of broken stock



After glueing Horn & Ivory inlays to the stock, and before filing to shape and finishing.



Complete re-chequer after repair. Oil finish next.

Jon,
I have neither the knowledge of this gun's value when finished nor the skill, allocated money and inclination to do it justice.