lowest lvl to drop max weapon?

ok few semi newbish questions I have been wandering about whats the lowest lvl thing that can drop a max dmg weapon

and also what is the main advantage to farming things higher than those
more gold drops? better weapon mods? lower req's?

I found a max gold shield in the wilds mission.

It's not level reliant, my friend. It's where you hunt. I had a level 3 in the desert dropping max. It's just where you are.

--The Shim

interesting ty