April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
(1887) This fine early gun, one of fewer than 1000 Syracuse address guns produced in all grades, has 30" barrels with matted concave rib. Tops of barrels are engraved "L. C. SMITH MAKER SYRACUSE N.Y." "STEEL DAMASCUS". Barrel flats are stamped with serial number and grade which are also on water table, which is also stamped with patent dates. Sidelock action features automatic safety, bushed strikers, and double triggers. Action has nicely filed beads and ogee carved fences typical for grade "4" guns. Action is engraved with 30% coverage sprays of scroll with geometric and line borders. Lockplates have more well cut scroll at ends and top surrounding very nicely detailed game bird scenes; left lock depicts a woodcock in open woodland in foreground, with another woodcock in far background falling from the sky surrounded by floating feathers after being shot. Right lock depicts a grouse perched on hillock in foreground with flushing grouse in background. "L. C. SMITH" is engraved on each lockplate. A setter is on trigger guard bow and serial number is on tang. Very nicely marbled European walnut capped semi pistol grip buttstock measures 14 - 1/8" over old leather covered Hawkins pad. Closely spaced point pattern checkering and drop points are at grip, and a vacant gold shield is on toe line. Matching near fully checkered splinter forend has inlet ebony tip and round hard rubber escutcheon with dog's head on uncheckered central diamond. Release is of typical J-spring type. CONDITION: Very fine, mostly original, as found. Barrels retain most of their original Damascus brown with very fine definition to pattern. Action retains 30-40% original case hardening color, silvered considerably on bottom and beads. Lockplates retain well over 90% of their original color. There are traces of original blue on trigger guard. Stocks retain most of their original finish with some raised grain and a number of scratches and marks. Pad is newer, but still quite old. Checkering is lightly worn, and has not been re-cut. Bores are fine, with some frosting. Action is tight. Few of these high grade early guns are found in fine original condition. MGM184.
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .034 (R) .040
Choke
(L) .023 (Modified) (R) .020 (Modified)
Internal Bore Diameter
(L) .750 (R) .743