What year was this shotgun built?

Question

I have a Lefever Nitro Special DB 20 ga. The S/N looks like 1S8916; unless that's the model number. It's stamped in the steel under the right chamber and you have to breach it to see it. Also there's a "20" stamped under the left chamber. I assume that means 20 gauge.

We found it in my father's house when he died. I think maybe it belonged to my grandfather who died around 1955. I'm surprised I know nothing about this old piece because my father would have been eager to tell me about it being such a historian. It seems it just appeared!

Answer 1

Precursors to the shotgun, such as the musket were widely used by armies in the 18th century.

Answer 2

Just do a web search by typing in Lefever Nitro Special or Lefever shotgun, or Lefever.* Or try icollector.com

Answer 3

Somewhere between 1921 and 1948 most likley. Is it a side-by-side? I would say maybe eary to mid 1920's. But I could be wrong.