Fine Gunmaking

American double guns are someimes short-changed for their quality or sophistication by those who cherish guns of English, Italian or Prussian origin. Double shotguns by Daniel M. Lefever, however, present some of the most innovative designs, practical mechanical principles, soundest workmanship and loveliest embellishment of any double guns I’ve seen. In July/August I examined an austere and early American shotgun by Thomas Golcher of Philadelphia. In part two of this series on notable American doubles, I’m going to look at a fine B Grade Lefever from the early 1890s, also from the collection of my friend Daryl Hallquist.

The best part of this 16-gauge’s condition is the virtually untouched metalwork; the worst parts are the overdone refinishing on the original stock, along with a stock extension and ventilated recoil pad.
The original high-contrast, black-and-honey-colored English walnut stock features an unusual Monte Carlo (raised) comb, fluted horn pistol-grip cap, and black-and-white stock spacers and a pad that were added later. The checkering appears to be in good condition, with elongated diamonds—about 3-1/2:1 ratio—with a mix of point and fill-in-style patterns on the grip and forend. Unfortunately the drop points and stepped sideplate moldings were washed out during refinishing, and the triggerplate is proud of the wood due to either bent metal or overzealous stock sanding. Another touch of elegance is the checkered and gold-plated triggers.
The 26" barrels display a lovely Damascus pattern with reinforced breeches and elaborately chiseled fences with scalloping and flowers. The gun weighed about 61/2 pounds and cost $200 when new. Hallquist rescued the Lefever from the shelves of one of the current “big box” retailers where it was listed as “restocked,” probably because of the refinishing and alterations. The B Grade is slated for restoration, to return it as nearly as possible to original condition.
I greatly enjoy the engraving on this B Grade. The views of the right lockplate and the right-side close-up reveal some of the nuances that I find so appealing. The dogs look like setters instead of generic hunting dogs. Maybe they’re not as perfectly rendered as in fine modern engraving, but surely they’re more genuine than some other American, English and Continental canines of this vintage. The vignette is attractive, though simple, with foreground grasses, a distant fenceline and open sky giving a realistic sense of foreshortening. (The way the case colors have faded to look like a storm cloud over the Montana prairie with the cocking-indicator sun adds unplanned loveliness.)
The central oval is well-sized and well- placed to draw the eye, and the way the oval’s border overlays the lockplate’s “comma” edge border is a technique employed by experienced engravers to lend another layer of depth. The repeated border between the vignette’s ovals reminds me of an ornate gilt frame of an oil painting of this era.
I also enjoy the use of “bright cuts,” the clearest example being the upward half-scroll tendril just behind the “L” in “Lefever.” Such thin-to-wide cuts are produced by tilting the engraving tool while it travels around a curve. Showing bright metal when freshly engraved, the cuts darken over time and offer depth in outlining the tendrils and forming the interiors of the scrolls.
Lefever guns were like no others, and because they continued to advance throughout the course of their manufacture, few folks are truly familiar with the mechanisms. One might separate Lefever guns into four categories: pre-1880 hammerguns; the Automatic Hammerless, including the sideplated gun shown here; the crossbolt, boxlock guns from D.M. Lefever & Son; and the Ithaca-built Nitro Specials and Grade A boxlock guns, which bear no similarity except the name.
Probably the most popular with today’s collectors, sideplated Hammerless guns are all quite old—the last having been made about 1919. The majority are found with Damascus or twist-steel barrels. As with all “true” Lefevers (distinct especially from the mass-produced Ithaca-built guns), these had many unique mechanisms, not the least of which is the ball-and-socket joint instead of a traditional hinge pin. Other innovations include a rib-extension lockup, a cocking mechanism separate from the forend, and triggers adjustable for pull weight. Virtually all mechanisms of Lefever guns were adjustable to compensate for wear.
The Hammerless guns were offered in a variety of grades, with the lowest being the DS, at $40, going up to H and then through A, AA and Optimus, at $400. There was also a Thousand Dollar Grade, and one can only imagine what kind of shotgun that much money would have bought in 1912.

Author’s Note: For more information on the history of Uncle Dan Lefever’s legacy in American gunmaking, contact the Lefever Arms Collectors Association, c/o Richard Brewster, RichardBrewster@ nyc.rr.com, or visit their Website at http://lefeverforum.informe.com.

Autographed copies of Steven Dodd Hughes’s new book, Double Guns and Custom Gunsmithing, are available for $48 postpaid from the author, PO Box 545, Livingston, MT 59047.