Lefever Arms Company
Encyclopedia
The Lefever Arms Company (1883-1916) was a manufacturer of guns in Syracuse, New York
founded by Daniel Myron LeFever
(1835-1906) who was an American gun maker, popularly known as "Uncle Dan LeFever". He is best known as the inventor of the hammerless
shotgun, first introduced in 1878. The company was in the business of gun manufacture until 1916 when they were incorporated with Ithaca Gun Company
in Ithaca, New York
who continued with the LeFever gun production until 1921.
By 1912, the company ventured into the manufacture of transmissions and jackshafts for motor wagons. This subsidiary was merged with the Durston Gear Company in 1916.
The Lefever Arms Company was founded in 1883 and manufactured guns in Syracuse, New York
for over 30 years until 1916. Daniel Myron LeFever
was in gun manufacturing business since the early 1850's and started his first company in 1857. He later founded several companies over the years in Auburn, New York
, Canandaigua, New York
and Syracuse
.
shotgun in 1883. This internalized the cocking mechanism so that the gun was automatically cocked when the breech was closed. He also patented the automatic ejector system which ejected the used shells when the breech was opened.
The Durston and Howlett families were principal investors in Lefever Arms Company, incorporated in June 1884 in Syracuse
to manufacture the Lefever Automatic Hammerless..
In 1886, LeFever lost control of his company, however, he remained as superintendent until 1901 when he left to start D. M. Lefever & Sons with his three sons, Charles LeFever, Frank LeFever and George LeFever.
LeFever had several failed business partnerships over a course of 50 years with the likes of James Ellis, Francis Dangerfield, Lorenzo Barber, John A. Nichols, the Durstons, the Howletts and in the end, three out of five of his sons.
In 1879, John A. Nichols announced his new business was successor to Nichols & Lefever, a maker of fine sporting guns.
During 1896, Lefever produced the Ejector gun and an advertisement stated the company was prepared to "accept orders for all grades of our hammerless guns fitted with ejectors."
By December 1916, the Lefever Arms Company was located at 200 Maltbie Street in Syracuse
.
that same year.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
founded by Daniel Myron LeFever
Daniel Myron LeFever
Daniel Myron LeFever was an American gun maker, popularly known as "Uncle Dan LeFever". He is best known as the inventor of the hammerless shotgun, first introduced in 1878.-Biography:...
(1835-1906) who was an American gun maker, popularly known as "Uncle Dan LeFever". He is best known as the inventor of the hammerless
Hammerless
A hammerless firearm is a firearm that lacks an exposed hammer or hammer spur.In rifles, using a firing-pin rather than a hammer is a substantial improvement because the time from trigger pull to firing can be less...
shotgun, first introduced in 1878. The company was in the business of gun manufacture until 1916 when they were incorporated with Ithaca Gun Company
Ithaca Gun Company
The Ithaca Gun Company is a manufacturer of shotguns and rifles originally established in Ithaca, New York in 1880.-Production:Ithaca became famous for building firearms based on expired patents owned by Remington Arms...
in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
who continued with the LeFever gun production until 1921.
By 1912, the company ventured into the manufacture of transmissions and jackshafts for motor wagons. This subsidiary was merged with the Durston Gear Company in 1916.
History
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
for over 30 years until 1916. Daniel Myron LeFever
Daniel Myron LeFever
Daniel Myron LeFever was an American gun maker, popularly known as "Uncle Dan LeFever". He is best known as the inventor of the hammerless shotgun, first introduced in 1878.-Biography:...
was in gun manufacturing business since the early 1850's and started his first company in 1857. He later founded several companies over the years in Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
, Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
and Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Gun manufactory
LeFever patented the first truly automatic hammerlessHammerless
A hammerless firearm is a firearm that lacks an exposed hammer or hammer spur.In rifles, using a firing-pin rather than a hammer is a substantial improvement because the time from trigger pull to firing can be less...
shotgun in 1883. This internalized the cocking mechanism so that the gun was automatically cocked when the breech was closed. He also patented the automatic ejector system which ejected the used shells when the breech was opened.
The Durston and Howlett families were principal investors in Lefever Arms Company, incorporated in June 1884 in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
to manufacture the Lefever Automatic Hammerless..
In 1886, LeFever lost control of his company, however, he remained as superintendent until 1901 when he left to start D. M. Lefever & Sons with his three sons, Charles LeFever, Frank LeFever and George LeFever.
LeFever had several failed business partnerships over a course of 50 years with the likes of James Ellis, Francis Dangerfield, Lorenzo Barber, John A. Nichols, the Durstons, the Howletts and in the end, three out of five of his sons.
In 1879, John A. Nichols announced his new business was successor to Nichols & Lefever, a maker of fine sporting guns.
During 1896, Lefever produced the Ejector gun and an advertisement stated the company was prepared to "accept orders for all grades of our hammerless guns fitted with ejectors."
By December 1916, the Lefever Arms Company was located at 200 Maltbie Street in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Automobile transmissions
By 1912, the company branched into the manufacture of selective transmissions for touring cars and planetary transmissions and jackshafts (complete) for motor wagons, and other parts involving high-class gears. This was a side venture for the company.Company divests
Interests in LeFever Arms Company were incorporated with the Durston Gear Company, Inc. in June 1916 under the laws of New York State and from that point on, the LeFever Arms Company devoted its "entire attention" to the manufacture of gears. The company assets, with the exception of the factory and machinery belonging to the gun department of the arms company were sold and the proceeds transferred to the new corporation formed to take over the gear business. According to company officers; "the management ownership and financial responsibility of the Durston Gear Company remains the same as that of the LeFever Arms Company. The gun manufactory was merged with Ithaca Gun CompanyIthaca Gun Company
The Ithaca Gun Company is a manufacturer of shotguns and rifles originally established in Ithaca, New York in 1880.-Production:Ithaca became famous for building firearms based on expired patents owned by Remington Arms...
that same year.