These guns were usually supplied in fitted presentation cases. All of these were available with high-grade European walnut stocks, skeleton butt plates, and lavish engraving and checkering. Smith guns were even fancier and more refined than the high grade Ithacas. This gun, along with all Ithaca doubles, was discontinued in 1948. I believe that the original price of a Nitro Special was $27.50. The Nitro Special action was entirely designed by Ithaca and bore no resemblance to any Dan Lefever design. The Lefever Nitro Special came with an American walnut stock, a limited three panel (pistol grip sides and splinter forend) checkering pattern, double triggers (although a single trigger could be had at extra cost), and plain extractors. Unlike the Ithaca brand doubles, some of which were available with very showy engraving and checkering, the Lefever Nitro Special was only sold as a basic gun. This was an economical field grade gun intended to compete in the marketplace at a price point below that of the Ithaca brand guns. But, in 1921 Ithaca capitalized on the Lefever name by introducing the gun that was basically the forerunner of the NID design as the Lefever Nitro Special. Ithaca, having acquired the rights to the Lefever name, assembled a few Lefever guns from parts and then closed out the line. Lefever and Sons several years previously and manufacture a few exquisite (and unique) pure box lock double guns. The largest and best known of these, Lefever Arms Co., was eventually acquired by the Ithaca Gun Company around the time of the First World War.ĭan Lefever had died a few years previously, and at the time of his death was no longer associated with Lefever Arms Co. He founded several companies, all of which eventually fell on hard financial times. Like many great designers and engineers, he was a poor businessman. "Uncle" Dan Lefever was one of the greatest gun designers of his, or any, time. The Lefever Arms guns, for example, won medals at an International Arms Exhibition for "Best American" and "World's Best" shotgun. Attempts have been made to revive the Ithaca NID and Parker guns, but these have failed despite the very high quality of the products.īut, in the hey day of the classic American double there were guns galore and many different grades and price points, from plain field grade guns to masterpieces rivaling the best European guns. Connecticut Shotgun also manufactures limited numbers of the A.H.
At that point the rights to the Model 21 design and all remaining parts were sold to Connecticut Shotgun, who still offers custom built Model 21 shotguns in at least three grades, including the top of the line Grand American. Prior to 1981 the Olin/Winchester Custom Shop turned out a few Model 21s every year.Īfter Olin licensed the Winchester brand to USRAC in 1981 and that organization continued to build a limited number of Model 21s in the old Winchester plant until their acquisition by the Belgian Herstal Group. Only about 100 guns could be produced each year. By the end of the 1950s it was strictly a Winchester Custom Shop item and cost as much as an automobile. The remaining high quality American doubles basically disappeared from the market after WW II.Īn exception was the Winchester Model 21, which soldiered on as a limited production product for many years.
The Second World War halted the manufacture of almost all sporting guns and the post-war world economy was not conducive to the manufacture of fine double guns. Many gun makers failed and most of those who survived were in desperate financial straits. The Great Depression hit the manufacturers of luxury items, like hunting guns in general and deluxe shotguns in particular, very hard. The First World War curtailed the production of most civilian firearms, caused a great upheaval in the domestic arms business, and marked the end of several companies.
Historically, the 20th Century was not kind to the American double gun. Although the famous Lefever Arms gun had side plates it was basically a box lock design, albeit a very inventive one. The latter was the sole American sidelock gun. Fox, Ithaca, Winchester 21, Lefever, and L.C. The best known of the great American double guns are the Parker, A.H. Most were box lock designs, as that type of action quickly became the American standard, but there was at least one famous side lock gun. Co.ĭuring the last quarter of the 19th Century and the first half of the 20th Century some fine side by side, double-barreled shotguns were made in the USA. Illustration courtesy of Connecticut Shotgun Mfg.
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