GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXTREMELY RARE "ALL OPTION" L. C. SMITH "PREMIER" GRADE TRAP OR PIGEON GUN IN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE ORIGINAL CONDITION. L.C. SMITH SXS PREMIER RE123256 12 GA MODERN; IVORY Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. With a total production of 28 guns in this grade, 21 in 12 gauge, the "Premier" is indeed a rare gun. Only the later "Premiers" had gold inlay. This fine gun has 32" Whitworth steel bbls, fitted with raised, matted, ventilated rib with one "certifiable pre-ban ivory" mid, and translucent front, beads. Rear portion is engraved "L. C. SMITH Premier GRADE". Tops of bbls are engraved "SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH''S FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL" and "MADE TO ORDER BY THE Hunter Arms Co Inc. FULTON, N.Y." There are 2-1/2" triangles of nicely cut, shaded scroll at breech ends, and 1/2" triangles around muzzles. Engine turned bbl flats are engraved with SN and grade, and stamped with Hunter proofs. Bottoms of bbl are stamped "62A" and with Whitworth sheaf-of-wheat trademarks. Case hardened, standard weight, sidelock action features non-automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold) and Hunter single selective trigger. Action is engraved with near full coverage very nicely cut, large, shaded scroll within geometric borders and interspersed with matching bands, all with floral bouquet highlights. "L. C. SMITH" is on arched band around tumbler ends. Nicely filed beads are around fences. All this fine scroll embellishment surrounds oval vignettes of dogs on lockplates, grape clusters and leaves on fences, and a ruffed grouse on trigger plate. These subjects are beautifully relief gold inlaid; the grape clusters in three color gold with red gold stems and light gold leaves. Finely detailed dogs; a setter on left, and a pointer on right, are on lighter gold "ground". A regular colored gold ruffed grouse perches on red gold leaves. Blued trigger guard with matching scroll has SN on short tang. Fine Circassian walnut horn capped pistol grip buttstock has lovely smoky watermarked coloring and fine fiddle figure. It measures 14-3/16" over thin black pad, and features elaborate fleur-di-lis style borderless checkering at grip with uncheckered thin ribbons running through pattern, and with large crenelated flourishes into butt. A vacant gold oval is on toe line. Matching wide short schnabeled beavertail forend has scroll engraved iron, also engraved with ejector patent information, and has typical J-spring and secondary release with knurled roll in guitar shaped blued escutcheon. Bore diameter: left - .724, right -.724. Bore restrictions: left -.038 (full), right -.037 (full). Wall thickness: left -.042, right -.040. Drop at heel: 1-7/8", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz. LOP: 14-3/16". Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum factory letter confirming the gun''s configuration as Premier grade, 12/32" VR, Reg frame, Hunter One trigger, BTFE and indicating dates started, proofed, patterned, finished, and shipped. Sold on salesman account " E.B. Trach & Co" Dec. 24, 1929, order number 31164, and then to to Von Lengerke & Antoine, Dec. 31, 1929. According to L.C. Smith records a matching configuration "DeLuxe" grade gun (serial:RE123015/order:31156) was also sold/shipped to Trach at this same time. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. Except for the addition of the new pad, this gun is in mostly what appears to be orig condition. Bbls retain 90 - 98% orig blue with some silvering on sharp edges, and some light marks and scratches. Action retains over 90% orig case hardening color, slightly silvering on bottom, and on edges of fences, as well as thumbpiece of top lever. Blue of trigger guard and forend escutcheon is excellent, too good to be true, possibly redone. Trigger guard has only a hint of silvering on sharp edges of bow. Stocks retain 70 - 80% orig oil finish, thinning from normal hand wear at grip and forend, with a number of light marks, and a few deeper dings. Checkering is lightly worn. Pad is new. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Ejectors are slightly out of time. Trigger works. As fine an example of this ultra rare, beautifully presented, L. C. Smith, as one could hope to find. Worthy of the finest collection. 50098-1 MGM142 (50,000-70,000)