doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A Dangerfield/Nichols/Lefever hammer drilling?

Yes, it would be great if the buyer asks someone, like Buck Hamlin, who really knows Lefevers and the Lefever partnership guns to take a look at the internals and externals of this gun to see if he can pick up the trail of who made it. The gun definitely has Lefever characteristics, like the thumb push opener, but in other respects there are features which are not like Lefever hammer guns. It is a beautiful gun, but may have been made by a fine gunmaker who wanted to borrow (without authorization) some Lefever patented features for the gun and therefore didn't want to put his name on it, since that would have directly identified him as an infringer of one or more of Uncle Dan's patents. As a gun of about A grade level, any gunmaker would have been proud to put his name on it, except for some special consideration like this. An inspection of the internals by someone really knowledgeable, as Ky John suggests, could provide important clues.

Keith, good eye. I have some before and after pictures of the gun. Photos from 2009 appear to be a bit different from the recent 2013 photos. It looks to be refinished , but the photos might not be clear enough to be definitive . Now, who was the real maker ?

As well as the maker I would like to know the restorer, if any. And I agree that it looks too good to be original. But even if restored it must have been in good condition or the restoration was a superb job.

.

I see now this guns shows as still for sale. It came up as sold yesterday. Buyer remorse or maybe the credit card did not go through. I think it has been refinished and the flaws seen are in part from that and in part from our expectation of perfection on a gun of this perceived quality. The camera is not kind when the images are blown up.

The reason the gun didn't sell is because someone here on this forum suggested he had before and after pictures of the gun being restored. That post has since been edited. A friend of mine bought that gun in about 2000 and prior to that it was in a casino collection here in Nevada for about 40 years. I can tell you with reasonable certance the gun is 100% original and except for 150 years of a few handling marks the gun is vertually brand new.

As for the checkering the whole gun exhibits that flat top style that I have never seen before on any gun. The bores are brand, brand new. I did take the locks off to look for a name and there is none but it looks more like a watch inside than a gun.

I sent the gun and the buyers check back to him in a good faith effort to re-sell the gun. He is a very well know collector and honorable man so I have no concerns and he can make the call as to its condition and originality.

Carey

Carey, if my post caused you unwarranted problems, my apology. It does sound like you did the right thing in sending the gun out. Here are two photos of the gun. The first was from 2009, and the second from 2013. What I was noticing was the different colors of the barrel lumps. It could just be the photography, but the 2009 lumps appear much darker.

One thing I noticed is that the locks look like the ones used on Parker hammer gun in the 1880s. I compared the photos to a D Grade gun I have, the pin placement, shape ,etc appear to be identical. Also the work on the fences are similar to high grade Parkers in that era, however the action body and trigger plate is different. Check out the forend latch! Refinished or not it is a beautiful gun.

Jim A.

I do not know if it is finished, or refinished. I just wish it finished up in my gun room. Hard to buy more guns with two kids in Ivy League schools. We even have to scrape the Grey Poupon mustard these days.

Daryl, apology accepted. I took both pictures and photography is not my long suit. They were taken with two different cameras. I cannot explain the darker vereses lighter in those areas other than perhaps angle and or flash. The gun for the most part is brand new other than 150 years of a few skid marks. If it could be proven it is a Parker it would in my opinion be worth far more than I am asking because he supposedly never made one. The gun no doubt was made by one of the greats, the only question is which one?

Carey