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hi, i just inherited a rifle manufactured by lefever arms co. How do I determine the vale
Already Tried: nothing
Thank you for using Just Answer!Can you describe the gun?Caliber?Length of barrel?What are all the markings on the gun?Philip
12 gauge Lefever Arms Co double barrel shotgun serial 22354 patent 1872 XXXXXXXXXX lots of ornamental pictures, moderate condition
That wiki answer has problems, BTW - a gun has to be made in or before 1898 to be an antique...If you take the barrels off the gun, what markings do you see? Especially any markings near the serial number on the water table (the part of the frame that was covered by the barrels before you took them off).Philip
I'm a novice at this, how do I take the barrels off this gun and what tools do I need
To remove the barrels, turn the gun upside down and remove the forend. Then gripping the barrels, open the action using the lever on top of the gun above the triggers. The barrels should just lift off.Philip
how do you remove the forend? I assume thats the wood piece underneath the gun
Yes, it's the wood piece in front of the triggers that you use to hold the gun when shooting. There is usually a lever there that releases the forend.
I found the lever but it does not release, there is a small screw on the metal part that might be holding it
With the barrels close, you can remove the forend by pulling the front of the forend away from the barrels. Then open the barrels and they will lift off the gun.
got it, got the forend off, the only writing with the barrells removed is 22354 , the the capital F or it could be a E
Is that writing on the frame of the gun (the part that has the trigger) where the barrels had covered it before you removed the barrels from the gun? (That area is called the "water table.")Philip Van Cleave41036.7334671296
yes
Ok - very good! That letter (E or F) is the key to me figuring out the value. Can you get a magnifying glass and look hard at that letter to determine which it is?Philip
will do
i think its a F
The Lefever Sideplate side-by-side shotguns have a variety of different chokes and are chambered in 10, 12, 16, or 20 gauge. 16 gauge increases the value by half and 20 gauge doubles the value. The Sideplate shotguns normally have double triggers, but a single selective-trigger is an option (this adds 10% to the value of the gun). The stock can be either straight or pistol grip and is checkered. The action is a boxlock. Models with an "E" suffix have an ejector as opposed to just an extractor. They were made from 1885 until 1919.Based on the serial number, your gun was made in 1894.Retail values for an "F" grade:Excellent: $2,850Very Good: $2,040 - $2,580Good: $1,800 - $1,920Fair: $1,080 - $1,680Poor: $960I hope this helps. If you are satisfied with my answer, please click the "accept" button. Thanks!Philip
Experience: Firearms instructor, 40 years experience with firearms.