Western Field Deluxe 20 ga side by side double

Question
QUESTION: My old gun, serial number S 9400 is a dandy!  I wish to know who made it for Montgomery Wards, when if possible and it's approximate retail worth for insurance. It is priceless to me, but the insurers want an estimate.

ANSWER: Hello Herb,

I would be surprised if you insurance company does not require a written appraisal for their records by a person who can personally inspect the gun and provide a written report/appraisal. You may want to double check with them.

That said.......... You do not indicate a model number/name in your question and there were several manufacture making these for Montgomery Ward over the years to include....... Colt, Mossberg, Nobel, Savage/Stevens, and Marlin.

It was probably made by either Savage or Mossberg but I cannot be certain without a model number. If you can find same and provide it to me I'd be happy to help you further.

Thanks for the question Herb.
Sid Lark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Not really a question:  Sorry there wasn't more info for you.  The only printing on the gun: Montgomery Ward, Western Field Deluxe, S 9400. The gun is, I think, circa early l930's.  A gunsmith told me long ago that he thought it was made by LeFevre.  He too, thought it was a great gun.  Thanks again.
Herb

Answer
Hi Again,

Well......... Lefever is possible I suppose so I did a little more research for you on that.

Lefever Arms Co. of Syracuse, NY, was founded by Dan Lefever in the late 1800's. In 1901 He was forced out of the company and then started a new one "The D.M. Lefever, Sons and Co. also in Syracuse. Upon his death in 1906 the company went out of business.

The original company was purchased by the Ithaca Gun Co. in 1916 who continued to manufacture "Lefever" guns until 1948.

The double made during the time in question was the "Sideplated" shotgun and there were about 16 different grades and configurations of same. These started with a "DS Grade" with a value (in "good" condition) of about $800 all the way up to the "AA Grade" which in "good" condition has an approximate retail value of $13,000 !!

As stated, Ithaca took over the company in 1916 and 1919 they continued to make the same model/s of "Sideplated" guns as Levfever.

In 1921 Ithaca (under the Lefever banner) introduced a new line of lower cost, boxlock guns. There 6 different models produced in all gauges. Twenty gauge guns have a current price premium of 50 percent.

One of these guns (Nitro Special) in "good" condition would have an approximate retail value of $250 to $400 with others being of higher value.

Well........ I won't keep going on about these since we are not certain that yours is a Lefever or "Ithaca Lefever" or not however I can tell you that as of now, none of my research indicates that either were made for Montgomery Ward. This doesn't necessarily mean however that it wasn't. There are just too many variables to muddy up the waters...so to speak..... especially without benefit of my being able to personally inspect the gun.

Hopefully for you it was made by Lefever since same would raise the value considerably. If I come across any additional info on this I'll let you know.

Take care Herb.
Sid Lark

Herb,

Just for grins I pulled down my reference material on "Western Arms" shotguns (also one on the trade-name guns for Wards) as opposed to "Western Field" and discovered that under that banner there were some shotguns made for Wards by Ithaca. As we have covered, Ithaca acquired Lefever and mfg. shotguns under that name for a period of time.

I am of the belief that you shotgun was manufactured by Ithaca after 1921 which is when they began mfg. (under the lefever brand) guns under certain "trade-names" to apparently include Wards.

These shotguns were all of the "Nitro Special" version which was a side by side double barrel shotgun chambered for 12, 16, or 20 ga. and the .410 bore. The barrels were available in 26" to 32" with a variety of chokes available.

It had a boxlock action with double triggers and extractors. They had blue steel barrels with case colored receivers and a checkered walnut stock. They were mfg. from 1921 to 1948 and sold new in 1921 for .... are you ready?....$29 !

Ok...... now....... IF we are on the right track with all of this, the values would be as follows; Exc.=$600,  V.G.= $400, Good=$250 , Fair=$200

For the 20ga. you can add up to 50%, if single trigger add $100 and with automatic ejectors add $200

Why the listing does not cross reference under Montgomery Wards Western Field vs "Western Arms" I am not certain (?) however, I'm  comfortable with the likelihood of your Wards Deluxe being of this make/model/vintage. Nothing else passes the "test".

I hope that I've been able to (albeit eventually) narrow this down for you and shed some light on the Wards gun that you own. These trade name guns can be a pain sometimes but that's just the nature of the beast I guess.

Thanks,
Sid Lark