Early Hand Engraved First Year 12 Gauge Lefever Nitro Special Built 1921

Serial #100122, 12 Gauge (2 ¾” chambers), 30 inch barrels with bright, excellent bores choked modified and full.  This is a very early, first few hundred made Lefever Nitro Special side-by-side shotgun(the Lefever Collectors Society sets the starting serial number at 100,000) manufactured by Ithaca.  The receiver features a hand engraved flying goose on either side which seems to be prior to the standard roll stamp engraving with slightly different graphics.  Interestingly this early version also had and extra set of screws on the front of the receiver and the cocking cams are held by screw rather than the pins of the later production.  In fine overall condition the barrels and frame are now mostly a dark pewter gray with scattered light use marks and tiny dings on the rib.  The checkered round knob stock and forearm have points worn smooth but are both solid only having slight cracks along the top of the wrist just behing the receiver.  The barrels are on face and the action locks up tight with the lever resting just left of center.  The LOP is 14 inches over a Pachmeyr White Line recoil pad with drops of 1 3/4” and 3” at the comb and heel respectively.  A very early and unique Ithaca Lefever Nitro special that would be an excellent candidate for full restoration.  FFL or C&R