OH oracles of AR15.com!! I beseech you for wisdom!A good friend of mine who's not heavily into guns, though he does occasionally hunt, inherited a 12ga double barrel shotgun from his father. The gun is a brand name "Lefeever" and was made in Ithaca, NY. It's REALLY old. Though I think I can get a local gunsmith to work on it, it needs a new stock. (actually, both. The forestock looks salvageable). Anybody out there ever heard of these? He'd really like to have "his daddy's shotgun" and he's a good friend of mine, dive buddy, and I want to help him out. I currently have the gun in my possession. Any helpful input would be appreciated.

D.M. Lefever Co., Bowling Green, OH.
founded in 1901 by D.M. "Uncle" Lefever. Box-lock double and single barrel shotguns produced at Bowling Green from about 1904-1906 when Dan died and company closed permanently.

O Excelsior grade (w/plain extractor)= $2550.00
O Excelsior grade (w/auto extractor)= $2895.00
#9-F-grade = $3595.00
#8 E grade = $4375.00
#6 C grade = $5195.00
#5 B grade = $6895.00
#4 AA grade = $10,000.00
Uncle Dan grade = $15,000.00

according to Gun Traders Guide.

Mike

PS - Careful you don't screw-up value of shotgun, they look pretty expensive.

OOPs, wrong one, re-read your post looks like it's one of these:

Lefever Arms Company
Side lock and hammerless double barrel shotguns made in Syracuse and Ithaca, NY. from about 1885-1915 (serial #s 1 to 70,000) when firm was sold to Ithaca Gun Company of Ithaca, NY. Production was continued until 1919 (serial #s 70,001-72,000). Grades listed per last catalogue.

Lefever A grade hammerless Double Bbl. = $775
(made 1934-42)

Lefever Sidelock Hammerless Doubles:
(e stand for auto ejector model)
h grade = 1450
he grade = 1925
g grade = 1695
ge grade = 2350
f grade = 1795
fe grade = 2575
e grade = 2450
ee grade = 3395
d grade = 2725
de grade = 3995
DS grade = 1125
DSE grade = 1395
c grade = 4150
ce grade = 6995
B grade = 1995
BE grade = 8550
a grade = 16,250
AA grade = 22,000
Optimus grade = 28,500
Thousand Dollar grade = 42,500
extra for single trigger = 650

Guages 10,12,16,20 barrels: 26-32 standard choke combinations.

Hope the one your looking at falls somewhere in this post.

Mike out again!

Mike: Thanks a million for your input. Off to the races with the info. Too bad it's his daddy's shotgun-I'd lowball him and kep it for myself. (SHHHH! )