Most of the leading classic gun manufacturers during this era used contract engravers who divided their time between the several gun manufacturers and non-related outside commission assignments. Fortunately for the Hunter Arms Co. and collectors of L.C. Smith shotguns, Albert E. Kraus was a fulltime employee of Hunter and worked exclusively for them during his entire 55 year career. Apparently, the only outside work done by Mr. Kraus for someone other than the Hunter Arms Co., was for the United States Mint for whom he engraved printing plates used in the printing of U.S. currency.
Fortunately for L.C. Smith collectors, Mr. Kraus' long exclusive career with the Hunter Arms Co. contributed to the consistent quality of engraving that is found on L.C. Smith shotguns, especially in the higher grades, throughout the entire period of 1890 to 1950. This consistency of execution and overall quality is something that few, if any, other classic gun makers can claim.
Mr. Kraus was also a talented painter. His oil paintings of dogs, horses, and landscape scenes are highly sought after and prized possessions among collectors of the L.C. Smith shotgun.
At the height of his career, Mr. Kraus was considered to be one of the four best engravers in the world, although his name seldom, if ever, appears on the guns.
