I picked up this nice f/f Lefever GE 12 recently to use as my trap/duck gun, and it has this stock shield that someone added on, possibly as a gift from a tournament? Hard to say. Not sure how I feel about it. Tempted to remove it and make it disappear. It is inletted into the stock, so it won't be a simple job. Interesting piece of history, but...

Would be curious to hear some opinions. Thanks.

The Sporting Life reports of state shoots from 1895 to about 1905 frequently mention Lefever, Smith, and Parker guns as prizes.

At the 1896 Empire State Tournament, Dan Lefever won a Smith gun in a raffle, then had his own Lefever stolen.
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/47190

At the New York State Association Tournament June 8-11, 1897 in Auburn, N.Y., Harvey McMurchy won a “$12 case of whiskey”.

If the gun was mine I'd leave it. But then, I don't have the ability to make something like that disappear, as you do. Tough call. Maybe engrave something (quaint) on it and leave it?

How long are the barrels? 30", or 32"?

SRH

May not be the prettiest thing in the world, but it's a feature that enhances the gun's history and character. I'd opt to leave the shield as is; and it certainly won't decrease the gun's effectiveness on clays and birds.

I'd leave it. It is in no way offensive to me, it is part of the gun's history, and it adds a touch of mystery. Tall, slender, dark, handsome, and mysterious.

DDA

Things like that add a bit of charm, of history, to the gun. You could always have your initials and date engraved on it. Leave room for others to sign in over time. I’ve often wished that these old guns could tell me where they have been and who owned them. The tails that these old guns could tell.

I agree with Jon. My 1918 32" BE Fox has the first owner's (probably) name engraved, crudely, on the guard bow. It says "H B Hart Oct 1919".

I wouldn't remove that for anything. Start the ball rolling and put your name and the year on that shield.



SRH

What Stan said....

Mergus

Awesome. It's unanimous. I guess I'll put my initials on it! Thanks guys. Appreciate it.

This is a 30" gun. Has a slightly higher rib than normal, so possibly a special order target gun. Also has unusual what appear to be factory 2 7/8" chambers. Heavy krupp fluid steel barrels. It definitely breaks clays beautifully. I need to take some lessons though. I average around 22 or 23 at trap, but I've never been able to run straights. I bought this with the idea I might try to start getting better and shoot in some tournaments. I enjoy shooting decent with a 1904 gun along with guys shooting $8k o/u's.

You'll grow even fonder of it if it does good work on ducks, which I fully expect it to.

Enjoy it in good health!

SRH

I think that's a good decision Mark. Your initials and a date, leaving room for future owners...Geo

Mark I would leave it alone.
Looks a lot like a Parker being sold with some cool history. Here is the link Dr Drew posts on the Parker forum.



https://www.rockislandauction.com/blog/wells-fargos-shotgun-messenger-hold-the-fort-aaron-ross/17/

If there is nothing of historical significance already engraved on it, I would get rid of it post haste. There is nothing attractive about it at all, and it adds nothing except a reminder that another Lefever has been defaced.

Since removing it would involve a refinish, I think it would look better with the flutes at the nose of the comb which are typically seen on G Grades... if they are done correctly. It is unusual that this G doesn't have them. Is the wood original? I see a couple other details that suggest it may be a replacement stock. I'm guessing this has a serial number in the 40,000 range.

E.C. Griffith's Parker. AAH SN 104021 shipped December 13, 1901 with 32" Whitworth barrels, pistol grip stock, with special instructions, "no safety, no butt, put gold shield on side of stock 'Presented to E. C. Griffith, Pascoag, RI By Parker Bros'". The gun was returned in 1902 to be re-stocked with a straight grip and to install Silver pad.



Griffith won both the 1901 GAH at Targets and at Live Birds

Ghostrider, thanks for that link. I really enjoyed reading about Ross.

SRH

That is very interesting to read about. Thanks for posting that. 5 of the first 11 to run straights were with Parkers. I wonder what the other six were? Lefevers? Remingtons? Smiths? Good stuff.

Here's the report Mark, which includes all the competitor's guns and loads
1901 GAH at Live Birds April, Interstate Park New York
April 13, 1901 Sporting Life
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/42059
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/42076
Won by E.C. Griffith (Parker), of Pascoag, R.I. He killed 25 straight in the race and finished 18 more in the tie, shooting out twenty one other men who tied him.
2nd J.L.D. Morrison (Winchester), 3rd R.R. Bennett (Parker), 4th J.B. Barto (Parker), 5th Chris Gottlieb (Smith)
Guns: Parker – 85, Smith - 34. Francotte - 21, Winchester - 11, Remington - 7. Scott - 6, Daly – 6, Cashmore – 5, Greener – 5, Lefever – 4, W. Richards - 3, Purdey - 2, Saxton, Clabrough, Cogswell, Churchill, James, Lang, Baltimore, Ithaca, Young, Reilly, Boss 1 each.



The straights, from "The American Field" April 13, 1901 courtesy of David Noreen. Griffith is on the right.

That looks like Ansley H. in the front row 5th from the left. Looks like he might be holding a Win M1897.

That's him, Bill, but he's fourth from the left I think. He's wearing that distinctive hat.

Good catch.

SRH

Stan, looking at my pics of Ansley I would have to agree. Looks like 4th from the Left.

Good man! We see plain ones all the time. Nice to see a different conversation piece

This is the original thread. Unfortunately, the image on p.3 was lost to the Photobucket fiasco
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=430518&page=all

Mark,

I had a nice straight stock F grade Lefever in the 49000 range, on which the stock shield (in the usual location) was inscribed to show that the gun was 1st prize in a trap competition, awarded to a competitive shooter named E. W. Arnold, who scorched the trap shooting circuit between 1905 and WW I. I am sure there were a number of competitions where LACo and ammunition companies were sponsors or co-sponsors and provided prizes during this era. My prize gun had a live bird configuration, i.e. without a safety.

Rich

E.W. was the many time Kansas State Champion
https://www.trapshooters.com/threads/kansas-state-champion-e-w-arnold-and-his-lefever.494345/

At the 1914 GAH; 4th from left in middle row

Crap! How could I get it wrong?

Can you see my red face from where you are?

I never was good at counting.

Thanks for the correction.

April 6, 1901 Sporting Life
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/41838
A shoot for a Parker hammer gun will be held on the Frankford Gun Club grounds, at Summerdale station. Frankford branch of the Reading Railway, on Satur­day, April 13. Tickets, 50 cents each; 10
targets up; price of targets extra.

Maybe blue it so its not so prominent?

I vote to remove it and if you have it cased install it inside the case or on the top.
I have a friend who owns a 1900 Purdey pigeon gun. Inside the lid is cards and information on everyone who has owned it. So neat!