A beautiful gun and a superb job of repairing the stock; you are to be commended! This really doesn't add much to the discussion, but besides the two recorded examples there is at least one more 16-bore Premier in existence that is not listed in the Brophy serial number recap. John Allen at Game Fair had the gun in his shop in Nashville in the mid-90's. It was a straight grip, and also a Featherweight; but was engraved in the original A-3 style (raised single dogs on each lockplate without the gold); with the original owner's initials and the year 1917 inlayed in gold on the trigger guard. As I recall the serial number was 220???, which record was contained in a missing block of serial numbers that disappeared during the Hunter Brothers bankruptcy of 1917-18. The gun was pricey, and I really lusted after the piece; but the only way I could have afforded the gun was to take a mortgage on the house. When I added the cost of the mortgage to the gun to the divorce that would ensue as a result, I had to admit that there was no creative financing scheme that would work for me in this instance. At any rate, I did try to photo the gun; which photos did not turn out very well; but trust me when I tell you there is at least one additional 16-bore Smith Premier in existence.
Last edited by topgun; 03/21/09 09:45 AM.
