Nichols & Lefever
Hi,
I was wondering if there is anyone with some information about the early Lefever Arms Co. Shotguns. I have a pretty old 10 gauge double barrel shotgun. It is stamped - Nichols & Lefever Syracuse N.Y. It does have some nice engravings including a dog in the weeds on the trigger guard. It also has exposed hammers, and the serial number is xxx only three digits. Through some of my own research I found that in 1877 The Westminster - Held there "First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs" During this show they had a Special Prize List that involved only 7 winners. The winners recieved anything from a flyrod, revolver, or a shotgun. It just so happens that the number#5 was for the best collection of Sporting Dogs, of any kind, not less than 5 to exhibited, and exhibited by one person , of from one kennel. The prize was a fine breech loading, double-barrelled, central fire shotgun, manufactured and presented by Messrs. Nichols and Lefever of Syracuse, N.Y. with a value of $150.00 I was wondering if my gun could possibly be from this show, and if you have any idea of a value on my shotgun. I also found that on 12/25/1877 John A. Nichols had applied for two patents#198669-"improvement in gun locks" and #198670-"198670-"improvement in hinge-joints for breech-loading guns. And on 6/25/1878 Daniel M. Lefever had applied for one patent#205193-"improvement in breech-loading firearms. Both guys patents were filed in Onondaga County, New York. I would appreciate any other information you may have about these two guys of what they had in common from back then. Thanks for your time, Bob.
Robert Kozelka
I was wondering if there is anyone with some information about the early Lefever Arms Co. Shotguns. I have a pretty old 10 gauge double barrel shotgun. It is stamped - Nichols & Lefever Syracuse N.Y. It does have some nice engravings including a dog in the weeds on the trigger guard. It also has exposed hammers, and the serial number is xxx only three digits. Through some of my own research I found that in 1877 The Westminster - Held there "First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs" During this show they had a Special Prize List that involved only 7 winners. The winners recieved anything from a flyrod, revolver, or a shotgun. It just so happens that the number#5 was for the best collection of Sporting Dogs, of any kind, not less than 5 to exhibited, and exhibited by one person , of from one kennel. The prize was a fine breech loading, double-barrelled, central fire shotgun, manufactured and presented by Messrs. Nichols and Lefever of Syracuse, N.Y. with a value of $150.00 I was wondering if my gun could possibly be from this show, and if you have any idea of a value on my shotgun. I also found that on 12/25/1877 John A. Nichols had applied for two patents#198669-"improvement in gun locks" and #198670-"198670-"improvement in hinge-joints for breech-loading guns. And on 6/25/1878 Daniel M. Lefever had applied for one patent#205193-"improvement in breech-loading firearms. Both guys patents were filed in Onondaga County, New York. I would appreciate any other information you may have about these two guys of what they had in common from back then. Thanks for your time, Bob.
Robert Kozelka
0
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Robert -
I won't even try to get into the particulars of your gun because I know so little of it. In general, here's the scoop...
Very few of these guns were made and fewer exist today. The bad news is that this doesn't necessarily make them the object of collector interest. Rather, they're generally viewed as that last transition step before they became real Lefever's.
Your gun... Unless you establish provenance, then it's pretty much just another old gun. A rather interesting one, but that's about as far as it goes. If your gun were a $150.00 gun in the 1880's, you'd be well aware of it today. "Nice" wouldn't describe it.
Onendaga Co. Historical Society would be a good place to continue your search.
Nord0 -
Not an expert, But I do have a Lefever from circa 1910. I have done a little research on the Co. If you can post a picture I "Might" be able to get more info for you. 
In memory of
Ronald Reagan
1911-20040
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