- Breech-Loading Single Rifle and Shotgun Cast steel barrels, back action locks with plain finish. (Rifles may be ordered with or without patent muzzle). Circa: 1877 (Nichols and Lefever).
- The numbers are mostly from his collection of Lefever serial numbers. I’t can’t possibly be all inclusive because the factory records have long since disappeared and these numbers are based on the onbservations af Bob Noble and some LACA members who report findings to Bob.
- Does anyone have access to manufacture dates by serial number for Lefever Shotguns. I have one with serial #12,219 and am trying to date it.
Fakes, Upgrades and other Fraud. One of the prime responsibilities of the Lefever Arms Collector Association is to prevent members from being subjected to fraud through the sale of guns which are subject to questions as to their authentiicity by reliable members of the association, For that very reason we have access to several well kept serial number lists which can help to confirm a gun’s.
Grades
Grade marking A though E began with the Barber & Lefever Guns. Not all Barber and Lefever guns have a grade marking.
Most all of the Nichols & Lefever are marked A though E.
After Nichols went off on his own he added a AA grade.
The Sidecockers were marked AA though E.
Lefever Arms Co. guns started out with grades AA though F. F grade only had minimal border line engraving.
There are also unmarked guns that we call special order guns. Special order guns can be a very basic to higher than an Optimus grade.
The next grade to appear want the Optimus around the 102xx range.
The next grade Dan added was the G or Ideal grade around the 14xxx range. The G had little or no engraving. The F by now had a bird or a dog on each side.
The H was added around 19xxx and was basically a G grade with twist barrels. As a lower grade was added, it seems like the rest of the grade were up-graded.
The Special Order gun pretty much went away when Dan left lefever Arms.
The DS and I grades were add around the 36xxx range. The very first one had cocking indactors, a dolls head, and twist barrels. The was quickly changed to steel barrels with not dolls head and cocking indactors.
I'm not real sure when if at all the 1000 dollar grade came onto the scene.
DM Lefever & Sons guns were built in the 0 excelsior, 9F, 8E, 7D, 6C, 5B, 4AA, 3 Optimus, and the Uncle Dan grades.
Variations of LAC guns
Cockers
Cocking rods, 91xx-13xxx
2 piece, 12xxx-25xxx
Small hook, 17xxx-25xxx
large hook, 17xxx-73xxx
Forends
Push button, 91xx-27xxx
Dogs head, 20xxx-32xxx
Snap-on, 25xxx-73xxx
Clam shell, 45xxx-73xxx
Openers
Thunb puah, 91xx-99xx
Pivot, 95xx-14xxx
Standard, 15xxx-73xxxd
Gauges
8ga, 92xx-23xxx
10ga, 92xx-65xxx
12ga, 91xx-73xxx
14ga, 103xx-114xx
16ga, 91xx-72xxx
20ga, 24xxx-73xxx
3 Barrel, 91xx-92xx
Double rifle, 94xx-11xxx
Grade marking A though E began with the Barber & Lefever Guns. Not all Barber and Lefever guns have a grade marking.
Most all of the Nichols & Lefever are marked A though E.
After Nichols went off on his own he added a AA grade.
The Sidecockers were marked AA though E.
Lefever Arms Co. guns started out with grades AA though F. F grade only had minimal border line engraving.
There are also unmarked guns that we call special order guns. Special order guns can be a very basic to higher than an Optimus grade.
The next grade to appear want the Optimus around the 102xx range.
The next grade Dan added was the G or Ideal grade around the 14xxx range. The G had little or no engraving. The F by now had a bird or a dog on each side.
The H was added around 19xxx and was basically a G grade with twist barrels. As a lower grade was added, it seems like the rest of the grade were up-graded.
The Special Order gun pretty much went away when Dan left lefever Arms.
The DS and I grades were add around the 36xxx range. The very first one had cocking indactors, a dolls head, and twist barrels. The was quickly changed to steel barrels with not dolls head and cocking indactors.
I'm not real sure when if at all the 1000 dollar grade came onto the scene.
DM Lefever & Sons guns were built in the 0 excelsior, 9F, 8E, 7D, 6C, 5B, 4AA, 3 Optimus, and the Uncle Dan grades.
Variations of LAC guns
Cockers
Cocking rods, 91xx-13xxx
2 piece, 12xxx-25xxx
Small hook, 17xxx-25xxx
large hook, 17xxx-73xxx
Forends
Push button, 91xx-27xxx
Dogs head, 20xxx-32xxx
Snap-on, 25xxx-73xxx
Clam shell, 45xxx-73xxx
Openers
Thunb puah, 91xx-99xx
Pivot, 95xx-14xxx
Standard, 15xxx-73xxxd
Gauges
8ga, 92xx-23xxx
10ga, 92xx-65xxx
12ga, 91xx-73xxx
14ga, 103xx-114xx
16ga, 91xx-72xxx
20ga, 24xxx-73xxx
3 Barrel, 91xx-92xx
Double rifle, 94xx-11xxx
Please remember that there are no factory records for the Lefever Arms Co. (of Syracuse). Therefore these numbers are an extrapolation from known data. However, up to 1/3 of LAC guns were produced out of sequence.
The below dates with associated serial numbers represent the approximate serial number range at the beginning of that year.
Lefever Arms Co. – Lefever Sidelock Model Guns
Lefever Arms Company Serial Numbers
| Observed Year of Production: | Serial Number of Gun: |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 5000 |
| 1881 | 5500 |
| 1882 | 6500 |
| 1883 | 7500 |
| 1884 | 8049 |
| 1885 | 8500 |
| 1886 | 9500 |
| 1887 | 10000 |
| 1888 | 10500 |
| 1889 | 11500 |
| 1890 | 12500 |
| 1891 | 14552 |
| 1892 | 17240 |
| 1893 | 20264 |
| 1894 | 22112 |
| 1895 | 23288 |
| 1896 | 24856 |
| 1897 | 25556 |
| 1898 | 27180 |
| 1899 | 28916 |
| 1900 | 31632 |
| 1901 | 36364 |
| 1902 | 40480 |
| 1903 | 45408 |
| 1904 | 49496 |
| 1905 | 51064 |
| 1906 | 54592 |
| 1907 | 57924 |
| 1908 | 60164 |
| 1909 | 61704 |
| 1910 | 62824 |
| 1911 | 65092 |
| 1912 | 65512 |
| 1913 | 69544 |
| 1914 | 71336 |
| 1915-1919 | 73000 plus |
Crossbolt Guns – (The Syracuse, Defiance OH and Bowling Green OH made guns).
| OBSERVED YEAR OF PRODUCTION: | SERIAL NUMBER OF GUN: |
|---|---|
| 1901 | 1000 |
| 1906 | 2174 |
| Observed Year of Production: | Serial Number of Gun: |
|---|---|
| 1921 | 100,000 – 101599 |
| 1922 | 119899 |
| 1923 | 158699 |
| 1924 | 185399 |
| 1925 | 214399 |
| 1926 | 233007 |
| 1927 | 252699 |
| 1928 | 272999 |
| 1929 | 297199 |
| 1930 | 298699 |
| 1933 | 298749 |
| 1934 | 299249 |
| 1935 | 299999 |
| 1935 | 325000-327299 |
| 1936 | 336399 |
| 1937 | 345099 |
| 1938 | 345899 |
| 1939 | 347099 |
| 1940 | 353099 |
| 1941 | 354999 |
| 1942 | 356299 |
| 1946 | 357299 |
| 1947 | 361199 |
| Observed Year of Production: | Serial Number of Gun: |
|---|---|
| 1934 | 300000-300654 |
| 1935 | 301007 |
| 1936 | 301023 |
| 1937 | 301037 |
| 1938 | 301045 |
| 1935 | 301050-301699 |
| 1936 | 302099 |
| 1937 | 302399 |
| 1938 | 302456 |
| 1939 | 302496 |
Lefever Single Barrel Guns – (Made by Ithaca Gun Co.)
Shotgunworld.com • Manufacture Year And Value Of Lefever ...
| Observed Year of Production: | Serial Number of Gun: |
|---|---|
| 1927 | 8505 |
| 1928 | 15729 |
| 1929 | 20280 |
| 1930 | 20799 |
| 1931 | 21799 |
| left open | 21899 |
| 1935 | 22299 |
| 1936 | 23099 |
| 1937 | 23499 |
| 1938 | 23799 |
| 1939 | 24579 |
| 1940 | 24604 |
| 1941 | 24607 |