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Joined: 24 Jul 2016 Posts: 548 Location: Ohio

Stock and checkering are good,bores are mirror and the bluing is about 80%. The lever is right of center by quite a bit. Very nice gun but is it worth $700.00. I just found it today in a shop.

Nitro or early??

Member Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 398 Location: Virginia

I assume it is a 16 gauge. Is it a product of the Lefever Arms Company of Syracuse, NY or a Lefever Nitro Special made in Ithaca, NY by the Ithaca Gun Company? Syracuse Lefevers were last made in about 1917 and are very different guns from the Nitro Specials made in Ithaca from 1921 to 1947.

$700 sounds too high for a Nitro Special, but it would probably be a good price for one of the old Syracuse Lefevers in 16 gauge, even one in the lowest grade. We really need more information.

Joined: 24 Jul 2016 Posts: 548 Location: Ohio

Sorry I left it out. It's a nitro special. I was thinking a value of $500.00 but thought I'd run it by the folks who know. And yep it's a 16 gauge.

Member Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 398 Location: Virginia

I haven't seen the gun, but $500 would be the upper limit of what I would be willing to pay. Nitro Specials were good, solid shotguns but they don't bring the same price as a Syracuse Lefever, L.C. Smith or A. H. Fox from the same era.

Also, please be aware that most 16 gauge Nitros came with 2 9/16" chambers. This doesn't bother some folks and the chambers can easily be lengthen to 2 3/4". Personally I don't shoot 2 3/4" shells in my short chambered guns. There are a number of threads on this subject here on this forum.

Joined: 24 Jul 2016 Posts: 548 Location: Ohio

Thanks very much. They won't come off the $700.00 so I passed. Yep,short chamber.