GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
FINE L. C. SMITH "CROWN" GRADE SHOTGUN WITH SINGLE TRIGGER AND BEAVERTAIL FOREND. L.C. SMITH SXS CROWN RE13689 12GA MODERN; C&R; IVORY (ca 1919) Cal. 12 ga. 32" Bbls with concave, matted rib are engraved "L. C. SMITH Crown GRADE" and "MADE TO ORDER BY The Hunter Arms Co, Inc. FULTON, NY." Engine turned bbl flats are stamped with SN and grade. Splinter is of reinforced type. Standard weight L. C. Smith sidelock action features non-automatic safety (S inlaid in gold) and Hunter One trigger. Action is engraved with 70% coverage scroll with some rose bouquet highlights within geometric and line borders. Lockplates are near fully engraved with simple scroll and flowers outlining oval vignettes of semi-relief engraved dogs; pair of setters, one pointing, the other honoring point, on left, and a pair of pointers, same attitude on right. "L. C. SMITH" is on scrolled riband on the front of each plate. A gold crown is inlaid on top lever pivot. Blued trigger guard with scroll on bow, surrounding central oval that has had initials engraved over, has SN on tang. Finely flame crotch figured American walnut capped pistol grip Monte Carlo buttstock measures 14" over open sided Hawkins pad. Borderless, closely spaced point pattern checkering wraps over top of grip and has small flairs into butt. Matching long beavertail ejector forend has J-spring and knurled roll release in guitar shaped escutcheon. Iron has ejector patent information engraved within line borders. Bore diameter: left -.729, right - .729. Bore restrictions: left - .040 (extra full), right - .038 (extra full). Wall thickness: left - .030, right - .031. Drop at heel: 2-3/8", drop at rear of Monte Carlo: 1-5/8", drop at comb: 1-9/16". Cast: Neutral. Weight: 8 lbs. 8 oz. LOP: 14". Twin ivory bead sights. PROVENANCE: Cody Museum letter confirming specifications. Notation from L. C. Smith Collectors Assn indicates that this particular gun has the earliest known beavertail forend. The L.C. Smith Collection of Gerald Basham. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain nearly all of an old re-black, engraving lightly softened. Action retains approx 70% orig case hardening color, silvering on bottom and right side. Lockplates retain over 90% of their color, silvering slightly at tails. Trigger guard re-blued, and subsequently silvered on edges and at grip. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig finish with some oil rubbed in as maintenance, over some small dents and scratches, checkering slightly worn. There are incipient cracks behind lockplates on both sides. Bores are excellent. Action has just a hint of looseness. Ejectors are strong and in time. Trigger appears to function well. A neat old trap or pigeon gun with lots of original color. Houckens in L. C. SMITH THE LEGEND LIVES estimates a total production of Crown grade guns at 890, 644 in 12 ga. 50491-1 mgm67 (7,500-12,500)