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
Serial Numbers - Ithaca Gun Co.
Lefever A Grade - (Made by Ithaca Gun Co.) 1934: 354: Lefever A Grade - (Made by Ithaca Gun Co.) 1935: 301007: Lefever A Grade - (Made by Ithaca Gun Co.) 1936: 301023: Lefever A Grade - (Made by Ithaca Gun Co.) 1937: 301037: Lefever A Grade - (Made by Ithaca Gun Co.) 1938: 301045: Lefever A Grade - (Made by Ithaca Gun Co.) 1935. The New Lefever Hammerless Shotguns Uncle Dan Grade: This is the highest grade gun we build and is superior to any other gun in the market for beauty of outline and balance. The engraving consists of beautiful designs in game and landscape scenery with inlaid work of gold that consists of dogs and birds. LeFever Vintage double barrel 12 GA. A hammerless double shotgun produced about 1891 by Lefever Arms Co. With serial number 14496. Checkered pistol grip stock and splinter foreend. The barrels measure 30” long. Price: $395.00 Antique: Yes Manufacturer: Lefever Model: Double 12 GA. Serial Number: 14496 Chambers: Two. Seems that there's a lot of Ithaca 37 fans on here so I thought I'd make a post with the serial numbers. 1 - 3500 1937 3501 - 10001 - 18351 - 34401 - 50901 - No Production 1943 - 1945 62901 - 1 115351 - 1. The Lefever Nitro Specials and other Ithaca Lefever guns can generally be fired with standard 2 3/4 inch field grade loads if the gun and barrels are in good shape. Do not use 3 inch shells, magnum loads, or steel shot in these guns.