April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
(1921) The "Monogram" grade was produced by L.C. Smith throughout its history. A total of 306 were produced. Engraving patterns started with dogs and scroll and changed to pigeons in flight around 1905. This grade was fairly high priced, and often customers wishes were accommodated in the manufacture. This gun has 30" barrels of Whitworth steel, with matted concave rib. Steel information and "MADE TO ORDER BY THE Hunter Arms Co, Inc. FULTON, N.Y." are engraved on tops of barrels. Rear portion of rib is engraved "L.C. SMITH Monogram GRADE". Engine turned barrel flats are engraved with serial number and grade. Whitworth sheaf of wheat logos are stamped on bottoms of barrels. Splinter is reinforced. Case hardened regular weight sidelock action features non-automatic safety and Hunter selective "One Trigger". Action is engraved with 80% coverage varying sized scroll with rose blossom accents surrounding etched oval vignettes of pigeons in flight on lockplates. The etched detail is unusual, as most often the birds are found flying through a continuous background of scroll. Bottom of action depicts a duck flying through a background of scroll. "L.C. SMITH" is on each lockplate, and trigger plate is marked "HUNTER ONE TRIGGER". Blued trigger guard has more rose and scroll on bow and serial number on tang. Restrained but tasteful, well streaked and lightly figured European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/8" over serrated hard rubber buttplate. Checkering pattern on grip differs from that shown on illustrated examples and catalog cut of this grade; it has continuous small crenelated borders instead of the deeper flourishes normally found. Splinter ejector forend with inset ebony tip and typical J-spring and knurled knob release is checkered in fancy pattern with modified Fleur-de-Lis ribbons through pattern in front of and behind guitar shaped escutcheon. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, mostly original. Barrels retain over 90% of what appears to be original blue, with just a bit of thinning at normal wear points. Action and lockplates retain approximately 90% of their original case hardening color, most loss being silvering on bottom of action from normal hand wear. Forend iron appears to have been re-hardened for some reason, engraving somewhat softened. Trigger guard retains nearly all of its original blue with some flaking and silvering on tang. Buttstock retains nearly all of its original finish with only a few light marks. Checkering is still light in color. Checkering on forend is somewhat darkened. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Mechanically fine. This gun is listed in "L. C. Smith, The Legend Lives" under production records for Monogram guns, as being shipped on September 30, 1921, as a 12 gauge with 30" barrels. Type is listed as "REOBT" (Regular frame, Ejector, One Trigger, beavertail, trap rib ??). Gun is accompanied by brown vinyl Sportlock case, lined in fuzzy gold fur. MGM154.
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .029 (R) .030
Choke
(L) .037 - Full (R) .038 - Full
Internal Bore Diameter
(L) .727 (R) .727
Length of Pull
14 - 3/8" Neutral cast
Paperwork
Consignor Information Sheet, Factory letter, article on gun, receipts