The doubel barrel shotgun you see here is a head scratcher. While it sure looks like a Lefever and it’s made on a Lefever-pushlever-patent action, it was made by J.A. Prechtel. Who was J.A. Prechtel? I have no idea, and neither does anyone else.
According to the inscription on the barrels, Prechtel was located in Clevelan, OH. Did he have some connection with Lefever? Perhaps. Where else would he have learned to make “Lefever” shotguns? How did he get the action? Nobody knows. What’s certain though is that this is very cool shotgun. Whoever made it knew what they were doing, whoever they were and whatever they were doing.
You can here to see more & better pics, and read a bit of the speculation surrounding the gunmaker J.A. Prechtel.
Here are the details on the shotgun from the seller:
J.A. Prechtel/Lefever – Ornately Engraved High Grade Gun, Two Barrel Set: 10ga. Steel Barrels 29”, Cyl/Cyl, with 3” chambers, marked JAPrechtel Maker Clevland Ohio / Made for Dr. EJ Cuttler on rib, 12ga. Damascus barrels 30” F/F with 2 ¾” chambers, marked J Weston on rib – pistol grip stock with a hard rubber butt plate, Double triggers, splinter forend, solid ribs, extractors, not marked Lefever and there is no serial number. 14” x 1 3/4”x 3 1/4”. 8lb. 9oz.(12ga) 8lb. 15.5oz.(10ga). Price: $7,995.00
