Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire anyone ever heard of a

lefever arms nitro special sxs 12 gauge shotgun, saw one in the pawn shop looked like decent gun and pretty good shape for looking pretty old, they want 325 for it.

Yes, I've heard of them.. Dragged out my Blue Book and they were made from about 1921-'48.. Values range from $300-$725.. Too bad it's not a .410 at 100% - that would fetch about $3500...

I have a 12 and 16 gauge.

If it's in decent shape, it would be a neat gun to have, plus, it will only increase in value.

Had one that had been nicely restocked. They were a solidly built mid grade gun back in the day. Tang safety drove me nuts being a semiauto and pump guy. Saved more than one quail's life.

Neat old guns

Have a 12 and a 20. The Nitros were made by Ithaca after that company bought out Lefever. They are nice guns. Ones that are totally original like my 20 can bring good coin.

Be sure wood isn't all cracked at back end of receiver. Sometimes that wil happen.

Look close!

An old guy I rode to work with back about 1970 bought and traded Lefevers regularly. He rabbit hunted with my uncle. I didn't make enough money at the time to buy one.

What length of barrels, Roger?

Ed

This and that the barrels have not been cut. Also, the lever should ideally be right of center, maybe center, not left of center. Solid guns.

i'll probably get it next week then, it was in pretty decent shape, all original wood still looked fine.

Sound like a pretty decent deal, Roger. As long as the stocks are not cracked, I'd go for it.

My dad had one . My mom bought it for him in the early 70's . She gave 75.00 for it . One winter afternoon when I was about 13 and it was about 13 * outside I fired one shot at the ice on a frozen pond (cause that's what you do when your 13) and blew out the side of the barrel about 4" from the end . Of course I was accused of sticking the barrel in the mud BUT since it was 13* damn degrees that clearly was not the case . My dad had it cut down to 18.5 and traded it for a Marlin md 60 22 lr . I think my mom is still pissed lol !

i saw one this fall in a gunshop near my camp. i think they had $425 on it. nice handling gun. i'm not a double guy though and already have a couple of old stevens in 20 and 12.

looked to be about 28-30

I had one in 16 ga for many years, it was totally silver and looked cool. traded it on a .45/70 a few years ago. neat old guns

My grandfather ruined a 410 Nitro Special trying to make a kids gun for me when I was little. Chopped the barrels and the stock cut the choke out of the barrels when he chopped them. It's useless except as a keepsake now.

Roger, the reason for my asking barrel length was that the LeFever shotgun barrels were made in precise lengths. If the one there is 28.25" or some other fraction and not precisely 26" (rare!), 28", 30", or 32", it's been cut down.
Measure from the breech face to the end of the barrel at the muzzle. Not the end of the rib if it has one.

As EdM posted, look at the lever position. Ideally, it should sit slightly right of center when the action is closed. If it is dead center or slightly to the left of center, it means there is significant wear in the locking mechanism.

If these things check out, you will have a nice, well built shotgun. I'm envious!

Ed