Lefever BE Grade 12 gauge – EXCEPTIONAL RESTORATION BY JIM KELLY

Lefever Arms Co. of Syracuse, N.Y. produced innovative shotguns, some of the best of the American trade, from the 1880’s until the sale of the company to Ithaca Gun Co. in 1916.  Ithaca assembled a few more Lefever patent shotguns through 1919 and then there were no more.  The most innovative feature is the “ball and socket” joint that mates the barrels to the frame.  Most other gun makers utilized the hinge pin in the action and hook on the barrels to join barrels to action.  The ball and socket joint allows the user of the gun, through the simple turning of a large screw, to tighten the barrels to the standing breech.  It is as brilliant as it is simple.

The breech is decorated with small scroll wedges and relief-carved wings which are engraved and flow right into the clover relief-carved breech fences. The friction style forend is nicely point-pattern checkered, with floral and geometric engraved steel tip, escutcheon, and iron. The case hardened sideplate receiver, with cocking indicators, is beautifully engraved with two pointers in an oval game scene on the right side and two setters on the left side. Each game scene is surrounded by fine scroll and chain link border pattern, which transitions from the front of the frame to the bottom of the sculpted receiver which is engraved with a scene of a retriever holding a mallard.   The trigger guard has a pair of mallards flying over a pond, with scroll and borders surrounding.  The case color is retained at 100% throughout and is rich in the proper tone colors for this gun.

The gun has gold-plated checkered double triggers, cocking indicators, as well as a gold shield on the belly of the stock, ready for your initials to make this beauty your own.  The auto ejectors are nicely timed, auto safety operates properly, and the top lever lands well right-of-center.  The highly figured straight grip walnut stock has carved teardrops behind the stepped sideplates, is checkered in a point pattern through the wrist with wave border pattern panel aft of the grip and terminates with a modern Silvers type recoil pad.

The restoration of this gun was completed by Jim Kelly of Darlington Gun Works.  Covey Rise featured a story about Jim in their September 2022 issue*.  Restored as it is, the gun is stunning, and it gives you the opportunity to make it your own if there are changes you would prefer, without concerns of messing with an original gun’s history.  A VFI Premium Leather Pad or custom fit horn buttplate would be a consideration if you were looking for a different length of pull, for instance, and would fit the style and colors of this gun beautifully.   Please review the detailed photos and specifications, and call with any questions.

*For further reading on Jim Kelly of Darlington Gun Works please follow the link;

https://coveyrisemagazine.com/a-rare-jim/