When Nichols and Lefever dissolved their venture I understand that Nichols took actions in partial payment of monies due him. From what I gather it was a fairly amicable parting.
Lefever was never shy about putting his name on his work and that is a gun any maker would be proud to claim. Perhaps it was started before the division and finished by one or the other. Perhaps Lefever had stopped making thumb openers and did not want to sign it and let it be known that he was still making such a gun after his automatic cocking double came out. That gun might have been finished ten years later than the time frame we are assuming.
I would like to know if it is restored or re-freshened. It looks factory new to me in most pictures. Can a gun last a hundred and twenty plus years in that condition? I would have shot it enough to show a little wear. But perhaps is has always been a closet queen owned my multiple men with more will power than I have to keep it a virgin gun.
