June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
This top of the line custom ordered shotgun has every option available from the factory at its time. It has 32" Whitworth steel barrels, with raised, matted, flat, ventilated rib. Rear portion is engraved “MADE TO ORDER BY THE Hunter Arms Co Inc FULTON, N.Y.” and “L. C. SMITH De-Luxe GRADE” is inlaid in gold on rear extension. Breech ends of barrels are engraved with large shaded scroll with floral highlights. There are raised vines and leaves in two colored gold around breech ends of barrels. Engine turned bbl flats are engraved with SN and grade, and stamped with Hunter Arms proof and “NP”. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with late Whitworth logos. Barrels are fitted with one piece loop and reinforced splinter. Case hardened action has nicely filed continuous bead around fences and over the top of action. Top tang has never been fitted with a safety and is fully engraved in floral scroll and geometric pattern. Action is engraved with exceptionally well cut medium scrolled acanthus at virtually full coverage, as background for vignettes of realistic high relief, gold inlaid game and hunting scenes with gold leaves and branches, oak twigs, and grape clusters as counterpoint. Grape clusters on fences are in three colors of gold, vines being dark red, leaves bright, and grapes a more mellow yellow gold. The oak leaf sprig with acorn on trigger guard bow is especially well done, the cap of the acorn being in dark red gold. Left lockplate portrays a number of feeding and flying partridge. Right lockplate has inlaid in gold a portrait of hunter standing behind his pointing dog in pine and palmetto forest. This is undoubtedly a custom request by and depicts, Mr. C. W. Stribley of Ft. Meyers, Florida whose name is engraved on water table. A full relief quail on trigger plate is also exquisitely executed. SN is relief engraved on trigger guard tang. Hunter one-trigger and its engraved selector slide are gold-plated. Very fine stump figured European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/4" over red open sided “Hawkins” pad. Borderless modified Fleur-di-lis checkering has very fine ribbons running through pattern with large shaped flourishes extending into butt. What appears to be original grip cap, made of antler, is relief engraved with monogram “C W S”. Fine early style schnabeled beavertail forend has large inset triangular horn tip. Interior of forend iron is fully engraved with “Ejector pat’d May 28 1901 along with SN in oval. PROVENANCE: L C Smith Collectors Assn. Letter confirming configuration of this gun and relating that total production of deluxe grades is 30, with 20 being in 12 ga. Excellent condition. Barrels retain essentially all of a high quality re-black, engraving, especially at at the muzzles slightly washed. Action retains 70-80% original case hardening color, silvering on sharp edges and thinning on bottom, top tang and thumbpiece. Locks retain nearly all of their color hardening, slightly silvered at tails, especially on right side. Trigger guard retains most of its original blue, pleasingly silvered at grip. Gold-plating on trigger worn on face, and selector button is slightly worn. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig rubbed oil finish, with a few very minor marks, and appear dry and untouched. Checkering is very slightly worn and dark. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout. Action is tight. Ejectors are in time. Trigger works. A beautifully appointed top of the line gun. An iconic L.C. Smith worthy of the most advanced Sporting Arms Collection.
Barrel Wall Thickness
.032(L) .032(R)
Internal Bore Diameter
.722(L) .725(R)