909. Rare Barber and Lefever Thumb Opener Percussion-converted Shotgun
serial #298, 16 ga., 29" barrels with fair to about good bores which show minor and a few moderate pits their full-length, the right tube showing a small ding and the left tube showing a professionally raised dent. The barrels show only remnants of their original Damascus pattern and are mostly a light oxidized brown patina their full-length with some minor pinprick pitting, the rear rib extension is marked "Barber & Lefever Syracuse NY". The barber and Lefever frame is overall a deep gray and brown patina with remnants of flaking silver case-hardening. The lightly engraved lockplates are "W. Moore" maker marked, likely the original maker of the percussion gun they came from; they and their hammers are an overall gray patina, they are not rebounding. The triggerguard is neatly engraved on the bow with a dog and game bird scene with some nice scroll toward the rear of the long tang. The straight grip English walnut buttstock rates about very good, is devoid of finish with light handling marks and shows a repaired chip above the left lock, the original piece was re-attached. The splinter style forend rates very good. Oddly both lockplates and the forend iron have been stamped "FA Bickford". Bickford was a contemporary of Barber, Lefever, Dangerfield, Nichols etc. he was active in Batavia from 1871 to about 1874 and in Cortland until around 1881. The frame, rib extension and the balance of the work is unquestionably Barber and Lefevers, what exactly Bickford did to the gun, if anything, is unknown. The thumb opener spring is positive and the locks are crisp and mechanically functional, the barrels exhibit extremely light vertical and lateral play. Both hammer screws are professionally made replacements. A good example overall of antique Barber & Lefever conversion. (34290-5) {ANTIQUE} (350/550) SOLD FOR $373.75 |
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