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Lefever Nitro Special

kidsgun
I have a lefever sxs double barrel. It is in moderate condition.
It has engravings on the frame of a duck flying in or out of water.
It has a bishop butt plate,it is stamped lefever arms ithica n.y. on one barrel and nitro special on the other. Serial number LL3815.
Serial numbers match. What is the value of this gun?
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • kidsgun
    I acquired subject SXS in 410 at a local show this weekend. It has a nickel receiver, trigger guard and fore end metal. My initial thought was to have the nickel removed. Upon closer examination however, it appears that the nickel is original due to the stamping of the serial no. and gauge. The numbers are crisp and deep. QUESTION: Would the nickel finish have been factory on this little shotgun?
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  • Bert H.
    Hello kidsgun,

    Yes, it is possible that nickel plating is original, but are you sure that it is not just washed out color case hardedning? On old Winchesters that were color case hardened, often times the colors fade completely away and leave behind a shiny surface that looks like nickel plating.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a WINCHESTER Single-Shot!
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  • kidsgun
    Hi Bert,
    Thank you for responding. I'm confident that it is nickeled because it is identical throughout the exposed surfaces and inside surfaces as well as on the inside of the fore end. I really don't like the plating (it looks out-of-place) and would have preferred it to be case hardened, but I don't wish to mess with a factory product. Are there records available?
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  • Bert H.
    Your shotgun was actually manufactured by Ithaca (after they bought out LeFever), and since Ithaca recently closed thier doors for good, I do not know what has become of their records department. Hopefully, they will turn the records over to someone like the Cody Firearms Museum.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a WINCHESTER Single-Shot!
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  • 101AIRBORNE
    Morning kidsgun,
    I have sold and reviewed many Nitro Specials.
    Never saw one that was Ni plated. As Bert suggests the receiver
    may just have a worn finish. The trigger guard and forend metal
    are originally blued. Perhaps the Ni you are referring to is just
    finely polished steel? While anything is possible I believe the Ni
    not to be original. Being a .410 bore *it may* be worth the money to
    bring the gun up to spec. Good luck. 101
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  • kidsgun
    I appreciate the input. I'm quite confident that it is nickel plated and due to the crispness of the serial no. I find it hard to believe it is an aftermatket job. Having said that, it is truly ugly and I think I'd entertain the removal and case hardening of the metal. Any recommendations about people/shops to consider?
    Thanks, Bill
    PS//I'm located in the State of Washington
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by kidsgun
    I appreciate the input. I'm quite confident that it is nickel plated and due to the crispness of the serial no. I find it hard to believe it is an aftermatket job. Having said that, it is truly ugly and I think I'd entertain the removal and case hardening of the metal. Any recommendations about people/shops to consider?
    Thanks, Bill
    PS//I'm located in the State of Washington




    Out of simple curiousity, where in Washington? I live in the Bremerton area.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a WINCHESTER Single-Shot!
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  • kidsgun
    Hi Bert,
    I'm in Kennewick. Seldom do I get to your side. I haven't made a WAC show in two years. I'd enjoy meeting you as I've monitored your input on different sites and always admired your insight and straight-forward advice.
    Thank you for backing me up on Antique Arms concerning my 410's surfacing. What did you think about Ivan's idea about cold blue?
    Do you ever get this way?
    Bill <billrupp@hotmail.com>
    PS??Does your home location reflect any association with the USN?
    I'm retired USMC.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by kidsgun
    Hi Bert,
    I'm in Kennewick. Seldom do I get to your side. I haven't made a WAC show in two years. I'd enjoy meeting you as I've monitored your input on different sites and always admired your insight and straight-forward advice.
    Thank you for backing me up on Antique Arms concerning my 410's surfacing. What did you think about Ivan's idea about cold blue?
    Do you ever get this way?
    Bill <billrupp@hotmail.com>
    PS??Does your home location reflect any association with the USN?
    I'm retired USMC.




    Bill,

    First, I am not overly keen on the idea of putting a drop of cold blue on it, but if you have an inner surface that is normally hidden for view, you might try it there.

    I have not been east of the Cascade Mountains since last December (when I went over to Kellog Idaho to take delivery of my new truck from Dave Smith Motors[^]).

    Yes, my home location does reflect my association with the USN. I retired from the U.S. Navy Submarine Force in February of 2000 (at the Bangor Submarine base). I enlisted in the Navy January of 1979 from my home town Astoria, OR, so the Pacific Northwest has almost always been home to me. A very good friend of mine is also USMC retired (Terry Pate). I currently work for a large Defense Contractor as an Electronic Systems Engineer (L3 Communications) out of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. I am still highly involved with the U.S. Navy Trident Submarine (modernization) program.

    Bert Hartman
    Win1885@msn.com


    Bert H.

    Real Men use a WINCHESTER Single-Shot!
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