2041 WELL DONE 16 GAUGE LEFEVER SHOTGUN OPTIMUS

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 13 @ 10:42UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 3,500.00 USD
Estimated at 7,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD

UPGRADE. Cal. 16 Ga., 2 5/8". S# 047930. Small bore Optimus guns are exceedingly rare and generally speaking, ones only hope of finding an example is to buy or create an upgrade. This attractive small bore gun has 30" barrels with slightly raised matted rib holding one steel bead. Tops of barrels are gold inlaid "Lefever Arms Co." "Whitworth Fluid Steel". Gold bands are around breech ends and there are triangles of engraving in front of bands. High grade Lefever barrel ogees have been cut in. Bottoms of barrels are newly stamped with sheaf of wheat trademarks (some distortion noted in bores). Case hardened sideplate action with S# and "Optimus" on watertable, features automatic safety "S" inlaid in gold, gold plated cocking indicators and triggers (finger blades checkered). Action is well filed with nicely shaped beads, rebated lockplates, shamrocks on fences and chevrons on top lever. Action and lockplates are engraved with near full coverage, nicely cut shaded scroll within geometric and line borders. This well done engraving surrounds flush gold inlaid dog scenes on lockplates with pointer on left and setter on right. Forward part of plates is gold inlaid with flying snipe on left and quail on right. Bottom of action has gold inlaid walking snipe and a flying pigeon is in gold on top lever. Trigger guard bow is inlaid with a setter retrieving a bird. S# is on tang. Newly made straight grip buttstock of well marbled and figured European walnut measures 14 5/8" over checkered wood butt with horn heel and toe plates. Flush inlet clock hand horn drop points have white dot accents. The checkering is of Optimus pattern with scrolled ribbons and flourishes toward comb. Matching splinter forend has flush gold inlaid setters head on steel escutcheon along with a fancy horn forend tip. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .671". R .671". Restriction: L .023" (mod). R .012" (light mod). Wall thickness: L .029" R .033". STOCK: DAH: 2 9/16". DAC: 1 7/16". CAST: neutral. LOP: 14 5/8". WEIGHT: 7 lb. 0 oz. CONDITION: exceptionally fine as refurbished retaining nearly all custom finishes on both wood and metal with only a few very minor handling marks. Bores are bright. Distortion is noted from newly stamped trademarks in both barrels. Action is tight, mechanically good. (22-5628/MGM). CURIO. $7,000-11,000.