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1Joe GanleyProminent gun-makersLEFEVER. As we continue our report on the great gun-makers, machinists and craftsmen of the late 1800s and early 1900s in Syracuse, the name of•, Daniel M. Lefever was a prominent one in the gun-making business along with Lyman C. Smith, Alexander T. Brown, William H.Baker, Frank A. Hollenbeck and August 0. Zis-chang.Al C. Atterbury of 206 Craddock St., a former gun collector and now historian of the New York State Arms Collectors Association, the man who got us into this story about Syracuse gun-makers, tells us that the Lefever story is “a story in itself” and too long'to repeat in extensive detail here.The Lefever Arms Co. operated at 213 Maltbie St., Syracuse. Our Syracuse Directory of 1891-92 lists A.A. Hewlett as president, J.F. Durston, treasurer and manager, with D.M. Lefever as superintendent. The Directory listing noted that the firm manufactured automatic hammerless guns,Daniel Lefever lived at the time at 410 Merriman Ave.Col. Robert Gardner, who wrote a book. Small Arms Makers,” reported that Daniel M. Lefever and John A. Nichols operated in Syracuse in the years 1876-78 as Nicholas Lefever. Lefever, Gardner said, operated at 78 N. Water St. 1879-89. In 1893, the Lefever Arms Co. exhibited hammerless shotguns at the Worlds Exposition in Chicago. The Lefever interests were eventually taken over by the Ithaca Gun Co., prior to 1926.V!r i; wGUNMAKERS GALORE. In 1951, Al Atterbury notes, Horace J. “Jerry” Swinney of Rochester put together a partial list of New York State gun-makers which covered 59 pages and listed 400 to 500 gun-makers.Swinney listed Lefever as making late percussion and early breech-loading guns and said he probably began in Au~ook Syndromewing devices, nakes cooking fun. imer, deep fryer, get the job done.pius there's a minus 9d, unseen, time-saving devices,oing them ciean.burn or Canandaigua and later in Syracuse with Nichols.Swinney said Lefever designed the first successful hammerless breech-loading shotgun in the United Slates and was generally one of the finest shot-gunsmiths who ever lived in this coun-try. _ jAtterbury reported there is little in-formation about W. H. Barber, who was a partner of Lefever at one time. But, Al has a rifle which bears the name ‘‘Bur- ; ber Lefever, Syracuse, N.Y.” engraved in its stock, probably one of four j in existence. Barber is also listed as | working out of Lisle, N.Y. at one time as j did Lyman Smith, Alexander Brown, W.H. Baker and others. 1ZISCHANG. August O. Zischang, ; born in Saxony in 1846, came to this ; country in 1876 and worked for the Sharps Rifle Co. at Bridgeport, Conn., coming to Syracuse in 1879 and opening : his own shop in N. Salina Street, where ; he made fine target rifles noted for their ;accuracy.Swinney said August used a hand rifier to make barrels in the 1920s and t was as good a barrel-maker as ever worked in the United States.” He retired in favor of his son, William O. Zischang and died May 21, 1925, Atterbury reported. * * *OTHERS. The name of Charles T. Demport. comes up in Atterbury’s research, as a well known Solvay gun- ■ smith and Spanish-American War vet- . eran. Demport. who died Nov. 9,1975, at the age of 95, was probably the country’s oldest war veteran when he passed away. He was born in Essen, Germany, as Charles Heidenfelder. later adopting the name Demport.Charlie turned out many fine cap and ball target rifles, most of which he modified. He worked for Semet-Solvay Co. and operated a gun shop in his garage at 123 Charles Place, Solvay. He kept the sport of muzzle-loading rifles and pistols alive and during 70 years of competitive shooting he won 200 medals. The Ei-bridge Rod Gun Club named its range after Charlie.Other names listed by Atterbury include H. Bradley, Liverpool; Julian Hatch, Cazenovia; Hitchcock Muzzy, Syracuse; William Malcolm, Auburn and Syracuse: George W. Minor, I..N. Mogg, Mareellus, C. Pauli, John H. Rector, L.H. Robinson, J.H. Rocketer, W.A. Sweet, R.C. Turner and Horace Warner.Obviously, gun-making was a major industry in the early 1900s and, also obviously, the good machinists and craftsmen who were involved in the industry were the forerunners of the machinists and toolmakers who built up the auto, typewriter, washing machine and similar businesses here in Central New York.■ i . -
Newspaper Details
Syracuse Herald American
Syracuse, New York, US
Sun, Mar 13, 1983
Page 119
Full Page
Clipped by
Joseph D.
IL, USA 19 Nov 2019
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