The first few Lefever Nitro Specials were built in 1921 and they really got going in 1922, offering 12-, 16- and 20-gauge guns. A gun in the 217xxx range would be of 1926 vintage when they first began offering the .410-bore version. The Nitro Special was built with the progressive burning powder shotshells being introduced right about that time, Western Cartridge Co.'s Super-X load leading the way, in mind. While the 12-gauges were chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells from the get, and I believe the 20-gauges were as well, the 16-gauges were chambered for 2 9/16 inch shells until 1934. Likewise the early .410-bores were chambered for the 2 1/2 inch shells, but Ithaca jumped on the 3-inch bandwagon when they were introduced during 1933.

A Lefever Nitro Special in sound condition is suitable for modern SAAMI spec lead loads.

That said, I can't state over the internet what ammunition may or may not be safe in the gun in question. That requires hands on.

A price of $425 might be in reason for a pretty nice 20-gauge Lefever Nitro Special, but a plain 12-gauge with double triggers and plain extractors would need to be in very high condition to draw that kind of money. Early on, the choices were pretty limited --

but during the Great Depression, Ithaca offered various options on their Lefever Nitro Special, ejectors, a non-selective single trigger, twin ivory sights and a recoil pad. A couple of price lists show a beavertail forearm, but I've never seen one on a Nitro Special that looked "factory" to me.

 

The first few Lefever Nitro Specials were built in 1921 and they really got going in 1922, offering 12-, 16- and 20-gauge guns. A gun in the 217xxx range would be of 1926 vintage when they first began offering the .410-bore version. The Nitro Special was built with the progressive burning powder shotshells being introduced right about that time, Western Cartridge Co.'s Super-X load leading the way, in mind. While the 12-gauges were chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells from the get, and I believe the 20-gauges were as well, the 16-gauges were chambered for 2 9/16 inch shells until 1934. Likewise the early .410-bores were chambered for the 2 1/2 inch shells, but Ithaca jumped on the 3-inch bandwagon when they were introduced during 1933.

A Lefever Nitro Special in sound condition is suitable for modern SAAMI spec lead loads.

That said, I can't state over the internet what ammunition may or may not be safe in the gun in question. That requires hands on.

A price of $425 might be in reason for a pretty nice 20-gauge Lefever Nitro Special, but a plain 12-gauge with double triggers and plain extractors would need to be in very high condition to draw that kind of money. Early on, the choices were pretty limited --

but during the Great Depression, Ithaca offered various options on their Lefever Nitro Special, ejectors, a non-selective single trigger, twin ivory sights and a recoil pad. A couple of price lists show a beavertail forearm, but I've never seen one on a Nitro Special that looked "factory" to me.

I inherited a Nitro Special in 16 gauge with serial number 129xxx. It has received some repairs, but is a solid functional side-by-side. What would be the approximate year of manufacture?

 

In my neck of the woods 20 ga. Nitro Specials are hard to come by. So $425.00 sounds like a really good price for a gun in decent condition and ready to shoot. I am pretty much a face-to-face guy when it comes to buying firearms and this limits my buying experience, so I suspect Researcher's evaluation is more valid on a national basis.

One thing you might want to consider is the gun's chokes. My 20 ga. with 28" barrels is choked M&F, and with modern ammo it shoots extremely tight patterns. If you are a really good shot this doesn't matter, but if you are like me (mediocre at best), then you might give this some thought if your purpose is to shoot clays.

Whatever you decide, I don't think you will find a better SxS, and at a fraction of the cost of a "modern" gun.

 

I plan to open the chokes on this gun and raise the comb so initial chokes aren't an issue. This gun is very tight, barrels ring, no cracks, triggers and safety move easily; it noticeably has a coat of clear finish on forened and stock by examining the checkering. The local dealer will take $400. I haven't made an offer yet. With this info, what's a good counter offer?

Thanks guys

 

You haven't told us what gauge the gun in question is.

The last Lefever Nitro Special I watched for sale in this area was a very nice 30-inch barrel 16-gauge, totally un messed with, that sat quite a while with a $399 asking price. I should have bought it, but I just didn't want it bad enough to make safe space for it.

 

Researcher is right. What gauge is it? I was thinking 20 ga. with my comments. I think the price is too high for a 12. I have no idea what a 16 ga. is worth since I have no interest in that gauge.

What to offer?..........If it's a 20 I'd have the cash in my pocket,offer $350.00, and see what kind of response I get.

 

it's a 12 ga

 

Researcher, I've been looking for a 16 or 20 ga Nitro Special in the price range you are talking about. All I seem to find are really worn guns in that price and above. I'm probably looking in all the wrong places. I think we are in the same general area, any possiblity of sharing leads on a decent Lefever?

 

I just went through all the Lefever Nitro Specials for sale on GI, and note the asking prices are all over the place, but mostly higher then I see in my local pawn shops here in the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area. I also noted some variation in Nitro Special forearms. Most seem to have the wood attached by two short wood screws. A few, like my 20-gauge and a lot of Flues and NID Model Ithacas, have a machine screw at the base through from the outside into the forearm iron. Also on a 20-gauge with ejectors, and a non-selective single trigger that Pat McKune has for sale.

 

Researcher, Thats what I see in online pricing and in the Seattle area the number of Lefevers I come across are small with big asking prices, and they sit on the shelf.

The theory on the 'S' stamp on the forearm designating Nitro Special, makes sense. Would there have been a chance of confusing a Nitro forearm with forearms for any of the other Ithaca guns produced at the same time?

 

Dave,I had a 20 gauge Lefever Nitro Soecial that was near mint when I got it in late 50s.It had factory beavertail,single non selective trigger,double ivory beads and steel buttplate and grip cap..It was not an A grade.It had extractors. Bobby

 

Gentlemen, I may be a little late here, but I have a nitro special in 12 ga that I inherited from my father. It could use some new wood as the stock appears to have been repaired and cut to a short lop. The metal is in decent shape, no rust. I shot a round of sporting clays with it when I got it and it has sat in the safe since. I would be willing to part with it for a reasonable price if anyone is interested in it as a project. I can email pics, given up on posting here, if your at all interested. I would prefer face to face, that way you could see exactly what it is. I haven't posted it anywhere for sell yet so just let me know with a reply or pm. Thanks, Bob.

Sent from my iPhone using Ohub Campfire

 

it's a 12 ga

Are these gun safe to shoot? Any weaknesses to look for? I'd like to use a SxS occasionally for clay shooting, and looking at one with sn 217xxx at local gun shop; thinking their $425 asking price is high.

The first double I owned was a Lefever Nitro Special Twenty. Before I bought it I asked a gunsmith pal just that "Is it safe?" He told me they locked up tighter than a safe. other smiths said the same thing. Before I bought a Parker Hale XXV, some four years later, it was all I shot. My friend told me the left tube was full, the right cylinder bore. He pronounced it the perfect field gun. It is amazing how far out you can shoot a quail in a thirty-five or forty-five MPH wind. I still pull it out and give it a ride for old times sake. I would never sell it--well--maybe for enough money. In the same vain is the old Fox B. My neighbor had a sixteen sxs. He let me shoot it, but wouldn't sell it. Something about his son-in-law, a guy I wouldn't trust with a spud gun. So grab a Lefever or a Fox B; you'll like them. Make sure the Lefever has a pistol grip.

 

Lefever (Ithaca) also made a single barrel trap gun. I have one with a 32 inch extra full choke barrel with a raised ramp that will really reach out and touch them. Some were made with shorter barrels and without the raised ramp. Watch the auction sites and they come up quite often and very reasonably priced.

I also own a 12 Ga. Nitro that my father hunted with and a couple of years ago picked up a 20 Ga. project gun that needed a new stock. I believe it was originally considered a grouse gun as it has 28 inch improved cylinder and extra full choke barrels. Well worth fixing up.

 

I bought this 16 ga. Lefever Nitro Special, serial no. 250xxx (1927?) in very good condition (supposedly deemed excellent at a recent VA Gun Coalition Assoc. show) last year. The seller was asking $475 OBO, and I got it for $400 shipped.

Barrels are tight on face. Wood is nice with just a few handling marks. Checkering is not worn as much as I might have expected. Nice case colors. Bluing is worn on the barrels. There is one small area of light pitting on the left barrel near the rear of the forearm where the bluing a little more worn than the rest of the barrels (probably where it was carried). Bores are pristine.

The bottom of the left barrel is marked "4" (Full choke) and the right barrel is marked "2" (Modified choke). It weighs 6 lb.-14 oz. on my digital kitchen scale. Using a 1/2" extended socket, the chambers measure 2-3/4" which is a little shorter than my other 16 ga. guns with 2-3/4 inch stamped on the barrels. I checked several fired 2-3/4 shells and they measure slightly less than 2-3/4".

I contacted the Lefever Arms Collectors Association (laca@hughes.net) to see if I would have any problems shooting 2-3/4" field loads in it and got this reply: "These were introduced in 1921. By then 2 3/4 was pretty much standard as was the use of Nitro powder, hence the name "Nitro Special"." You can shoot off the shelf target/field loads in them. No steel or magnums." I was also told that $400 was a very good price
for a 16 ga. nitro special in that condition.

 

BarkeyVA-I have owned and bought/sold several Nitro Specials, and never found one in as pristine condition as yours. You did very well. Not only on the price, but to even find one in this condition!

 

I see the catalog brochure above for the Lefever shotguns. I just bought a Lefever Nitro Special 20 gauge, left barrel flat is marked 4 right barrel flat is marked 2, i.e. FULL and MOD. Gun is in 70% overall original condition, checkering is worn but still present and not filled, stock and forearm show no cracks or damage, barrels lock up tight and lever is still to the right when closed. Double trigger gun. The stock has been cut down to around 13 1/4" LOP from front trigger to center of stock. I will put a recoil pad on it to make it 14" LOP. Barrels removed from action measure 26 1/2", tip to tail. The barrels do not appear to have been cut. Barrels installed to receiver measure 28" from muzzle to where the stock (wood) meets the receiver. The catalog brochure above states 20 gauge guns were only offered with 28" barrels. Am I not measuring the barrels correctly or have the barrels been cut and just done extremely well? The barrels are exactly 26 1/2" when removed from receiver. Were Lefever shotguns available with 26" barrels?. SN is 151508. Any help is appreciated.

 

I had a Lefever Nitro Special 20 ga in rather average condition. My Ithaca built gun had 26" barrels and I sold it for $200 and was happy to get it. The buyer later sold it for $300 if that is any help.

 

I bought it for $325 shipped about two weeks ago, if that means anything.

 

I have a lefever nitro special 209647 12 ga in very good condition was wondering if anyone would know what year it was made

 

According to the serial number chronology in Walter Snyder's book, The Ithaca Gun Company, from the Beginning, 185400 to 214399 were made in 1925. That appears to be a Fajan replacement stock on your gun. Certainly not original 1925 Lefever Nitro Special wood. Should look like this --

During 1928, just before Ithaca added the even lower priced Western Arms Long Range Double to their offerings, they changed to a capped full pistol grip on their Lefever Nitro Specials --

 

The first few Lefever Nitro Specials were built in 1921 and they really got going in 1922, offering 12-, 16- and 20-gauge guns. A gun in the 217xxx range would be of 1926 vintage when they first began offering the .410-bore version. The Nitro Special was built with the progressive burning powder shotshells being introduced right about that time, Western Cartridge Co.'s Super-X load leading the way, in mind. While the 12-gauges were chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells from the get, and I believe the 20-gauges were as well, the 16-gauges were chambered for 2 9/16 inch shells until 1934. Likewise the early .410-bores were chambered for the 2 1/2 inch shells, but Ithaca jumped on the 3-inch bandwagon when they were introduced during 1933.

A Lefever Nitro Special in sound condition is suitable for modern SAAMI spec lead loads.

That said, I can't state over the internet what ammunition may or may not be safe in the gun in question. That requires hands on.

A price of $425 might be in reason for a pretty nice 20-gauge Lefever Nitro Special, but a plain 12-gauge with double triggers and plain extractors would need to be in very high condition to draw that kind of money. Early on, the choices were pretty limited --

but during the Great Depression, Ithaca offered various options on their Lefever Nitro Special, ejectors, a non-selective single trigger, twin ivory sights and a recoil pad. A couple of price lists show a beavertail forearm, but I've never seen one on a Nitro Special that looked "factory" to me.

The first few Lefever Nitro Specials were built in 1921 and they really got going in 1922, offering 12-, 16- and 20-gauge guns. A gun in the 217xxx range would be of 1926 vintage when they first began offering the .410-bore version. The Nitro Special was built with the progressive burning powder shotshells being introduced right about that time, Western Cartridge Co.'s Super-X load leading the way, in mind. While the 12-gauges were chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells from the get, and I believe the 20-gauges were as well, the 16-gauges were chambered for 2 9/16 inch shells until 1934. Likewise the early .410-bores were chambered for the 2 1/2 inch shells, but Ithaca jumped on the 3-inch bandwagon when they were introduced during 1933.

A Lefever Nitro Special in sound condition is suitable for modern SAAMI spec lead loads.

That said, I can't state over the internet what ammunition may or may not be safe in the gun in question. That requires hands on.

A price of $425 might be in reason for a pretty nice 20-gauge Lefever Nitro Special, but a plain 12-gauge with double triggers and plain extractors would need to be in very high condition to draw that kind of money. Early on, the choices were pretty limited --

but during the Great Depression, Ithaca offered various options on their Lefever Nitro Special, ejectors, a non-selective single trigger, twin ivory sights and a recoil pad. A couple of price lists show a beavertail forearm, but I've never seen one on a Nitro Special that looked "factory" to me.

I have one 16ga #344xxx is it safe to shoot modern ammo?

 

I have one 16ga #344xxx is it safe to shoot modern ammo?

No one can tell you over the internet what ammunition may or may not be safe in a given gun.

Your gun would be of 1937 vintage. SAAMI specs for pressures that came into effect about 1925 are much the same as they are today. Ithaca began chambering their 16-gauge guns for 2 3/4-inch shells in 1934. A 1937 vintage Lefever Nitro Special 16-gauge in sound condition should be able to handle any commercially available lead shot 16-gauge ammunition. Whether you want to subject 86-year-old wood to the recoil forces of some of the heavier, high velocity, 16-gauge ammo is a judgement call you will have to make. Do not use any steel shot shells in the gun. If you need to use non-toxic shot it needs to be something like bismuth, tungsten matrix or Nice-Shot.

 

Thank you very much I have had it for many years nor sure where I got it but just wanted to shoot some skeet with it as a nostalgia thing.

 

Gentlemen,
For those sportsman purchasing American Classic double guns, we recommend the use of RST shells.
Morris Baker builds high quality shells for Classic American & Euro guns. When you have a Classic double gun 80-100+ years old, we recommend using shells built for those guns, to help preserve their longevity usage.

I use RST shells in all my Classic guns, RST provides 2 1/2" & 2 3/4" high quality shells for Classic guns. I do wish Polywad was still making shells also, they had a great product.
Never abuse a great Classic double gun by using the wrong shells in it. The RST shells are not inexpensive, find them on the RST web page, they deliver right to your front door.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L. C. Smith Man

A Ithaca/LeFever Nitro Special like no other.