old double barrel

Question
hey

my names james i have a lefever nitro special the serial number is 126560 it has a flyin goose on each side gun it has leferver nitro specil on the right barrel and on the left it says lefever arms co ithica ny i dont no nothing about it and i cant find anything or wat its worth it is in rough shape still shoot able i had a local gun expert look at it and he said it was worth less but it will shoot i dont care wat is worth i just wanna no how old it is and if i can find a rear stock for it. or ideas how to fix the one i have.

please contact me back

thanks

Answer
James,

The Lefever Nitro Special was introduced in 1921 and discontinued in 1948.  Based on the serial number, your gun was made in 1923.

It was not a true Dan Lefever design but instead was an Ithaca boxlock design, the precursor of the famous Ithaca NID that appeared four years later. Ithaca bought Lefever in 1916 and wanted to capitalize on the famous name. The earlier Lefever double guns manufactured by the Lefever Arms Company and D.M. Lefever and Sons were highly regarded and are mostly collectors' items today.

The Nitro Special was not a fancy gun, but it was built solidly and is a strong gun. Nitro Specials were designed for modern smokeless powder shells (but not steel shot) and any Nitro Special that has not been abused should be safe to use today.  You should probably get it checked by a gunsmith before shooting it, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't shootable.

Most Nitro Specials have color case hardened receivers, double triggers, plain extractors, a low solid rib, and semi-pistol grip walnut stocks and splinter forearms checkered about 16 lpi. However, there were variations, including beavertail forearms and a single selective trigger. Gauges were 12, 16, 20, and .410 bore.

As far as a replacement stock, check out the following website:  www.gunstocksinc.com
You can also find spare parts for your shotgun at:  www.gunpartscorp.com

Hope this helps you out...

Best regards,

Doug Little