2299

EARLY LEFEVER AA GRADE HAMMERLESS GAME GUN.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
EARLY LEFEVER AA GRADE HAMMERLESS GAME GUN.
SN 10005. Cal. 10 ga. 3" Chambers. 30" Chopper lump bbls are engraved on tops "Whitworth Fluid Steel". Consignor states: "This is believed to be the earliest Whitworth steel Lefever." Broad, flat, matted rib is engraved "Lefever Arms Co Makers and Patentees Syracuse N.Y." in unmatted portions toward breech end. Bottom of left bbl is stamped with SN. Raised cyma curve decoration is above rear portion of bbl flats. Early type, fully compensated action with push forward thumb lever opening and cammed cocking rods, features automatic safety, double triggers, and pin type cocking indicators. Action has nicely filed beads. Fences are carved with shamrocks and scallops. Tails of lockplates and side panels of stock are rebated. Action is nicely feather and geometrically border engraved with well cut flourishes of scroll; a very fine portrait of hound is on bottom of action bar. Lockplates have fine scroll engraving and geometric borders surrounding exceptionally fine and beautifully shaded vignettes of bird dogs in ovals; a setter pointing with his companion honoring point in meadow are on left lockplate; a pair of pointing pointers flushing covey of quail ison right. Both of these wonderful scenes are signed by engraver, Glahn. (Signed examples of Lefever engraving are exceptionally rare.) Trigger guard has setter inlaid in gold in oval vignette on trigger guard bow with SN at grip. Striking finely marbled and nicely fiddle-figured Circassian walnut semi-pistol grip buttstock measures 13-7/8" over thick Silver type pad with widow's peak. Checkering at grip has line border, and is at approx 22 LPI. There are areas of fleur-di-lis type finer checkering (approx 36 LPI) toward top of grip and extends back into body of stock. Grip is capped with rounded horn and gold escutcheon. Gold shield is on toe line. There are two circular horn inlays with central ivory dots at either side of top tang behind thumb lever and ahead of safety. ("Uncle Dan" often used such dots in parts of stocks to relieve stress.) Stock also features drop points. Splinter forend with fancy shaped inlet horn tip, also has fleur-di-lis type checkering pattern matching buttstock, and push button latch with button of gold engraved with snipe. Bore diameter: left-.781, right -.780. Bore restrictions: left -.046 (Full), right -.036 (Mod). Wall thickness: left -.030, right -.036. Drop at heel: 3-1/4", drop at comb: 1-5/8". Weight: 8 lbs. 9 oz. LOP: 13-7/8". CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain 50 - 60% orig blue, considerably silvered around forend from normal carrying and use, and toward left breech from cleaning. Action retains a considerable amount, possibly as much as 70%, orig case hardening color, which was never very brilliant, as evidenced by condition of water table, which is almost a French gray. Lockplates retain a similar amount of this muted color. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig French polish finish, worn through at comb and at grip, with numerous large and small marks and scratches. Checkering is slightly worn and dirty. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny. Action is tight. Pad is a recent replacement. 4-47568 MGM64