doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com LC Smith for Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. I may have found myself a new present but was wanting some input before I make the plunge.

Neigbor's son aquired an Elsie field grade 12, 28" armor steel barrels (F/M), double bead, beavertail f/e, non-original red pad.

Barrels would grade out to 95%+, wood is excellent with a few light hunting marks, serial # 179xxx (1937?), CC are good (?)I would say 30-40% on the left side, bottom and top (more on protected areas) BUT the metal on the right side of the receiver has turned a mottled grey. I'm guessing that the gun was stored on this side and the metal must have come into contact with some material that effected the wear of the case colors. Just a guess. The metal is not pitted or bad, just no CC's. The young man that owns it also told me the gun had ejectors - however, it does not. Extractors and ejectors must look the same to most new double barrel owners.

I was thinking it was a good deal at $800 (but that was when I was told it had ejectors)After I had it in my hands, I still think it's a great gun. I like the beavertail f/e and it really is in great shape for being 75 years old. I offered $600 and the owner is considering it. His parents let the cat out of the bag, by telling me that their son bought the gun at a frat party five years ago for $75. Made me wish I'd offered him less.

How common is the beavertail f/e? Deal or NO-Deal at $600?

Hope everyone has a great Christmas, it's the best birthday party of the year.

Not bad price wise, maybe a little high, maybe not hard to judge without seeing it. My theory, if you like the gun and have financial means buy it!! $600 for an American classic in good shape like that is not bad. I have not seen that many original beavertail forends. My guess a letter would be good.

What Steve said as far as value goes. The lack of case on the right side could be from being carried by a right-hand shooter.
Regarding the BTFE, they are uncommon on a Field, so pics are needed to determine if it is original. Also, you might want to consult Brophy's and/or Houchins' books for pics of factory BT's.

600 Bucks ?
Come on !!
It should be in your house

I and possibly you have wasted $600 on more foolish adventures, right? Get it and give her a good home and post pictures. Hopefully this will be a gun you shoot instead of just look at.

Mike

I agree about blowing $600 on dumber things. I allready offered the seller $600, problem is, he wants $800. It's probably worth the $800 he's asking, my problem lies in that I have 5 kids and at Christmas time - my working capital is stretched. The fact that he screwed some college kid out of it for $75 - makes me not want to pay his full asking price. I'll let him sit on the offer tll after x-mas. Maybe when the first credit card bill comes... that will be incentive to move it.

Here are some BTs

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/15656750

Well, the seller who took $75 was happy to get it and the seller was happy to give it. Now, the seller is trying to see it for what it is worth. What is wrong with that? If somone gives you a $100 bill for Christmas, does that mean the $100 bill is not worth a $100? If the gun makes you happy and the price is worth what he is asking, what is the problem?

If I saw it and the BT was original, I would have left with it. $600 is a damn good deal where I live given the description. How much more to pay is a matter of how bad do you want it?

I don't recall exactly, but I thought Armor Steel barrels were not found on post-1913 guns. I am not that far from your geographic location and I still find decent Smiths in like condition for what you are offering. From your description, I don't see it being tragic if he won't take $600.00. I picked up a nicer condition Ideal grade 12 ga. 2 yrs ago for a little more than your offer for a Field or OO grade. That was before the Great Depression of 2008. At a PGCA show in Greensburg, Pa. in 2007, I passed up a 98-99% original finish field grade Elsie for $950.00 and watched the guy take it home. I kind of regret that one, but I was dealing with a guy on a makers cased Thomas Bland 12 bore Paradox with mold and accessories, and didn't have the money with me to buy both. I ended up with neither because the Bland owner was just sucker fishing, and also left (with the gun) after another guy offered him over $1000.00 more than it was worth. My rule, which is not for everybody, is to never buy a gun if I could not easily get that price for it were I to sell it tomorrow. I worked too hard for my money to piss it away, and have enough guns that desperation is not part of any transaction. Field grade Smiths in this condition are not rare and you will find another, maybe all original. I don't like to think it, but I know that in this economy it's more of a buyers market.

Keith,
All Hunter Arms Fields have Armor Steel barrels.