doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com L.C. Smith Grade 2

Saw the nicest L.C. Smith today for sale. Serial #218177 Grade 2, 12 bore, 32" barrels choked F & F, English stock, Hunter one trigger, not a screw ever turned, one owner and as close to perfect as I have ever seen. 95%+. Only issue I saw was the red pad was crushed from sitting in a gun case for 50+ years. Gun was priced under $2000 and I thought it to be one of the best deals I've ran across on a quality double in a long time. I'd have to part with something to make it happen, and I am seriously considering doing just that. Any thoughts and opinions?

Best regards,

Pull the trigger

Mike

p.s. will this F/F gun be used or be an item in
a collection?

From your description a very fair price. Assuming that you are familiar with pre-'13 Elsies, can you assure yourself that 1) it hasn't been reblued and/or recased, and 2) that the LOP is correct OVER the pad?
Remember, standard LOP varies depending on trigger position---- 13-1/4" for a rear position trigger, 13-3/4" for a mid position, and 14-1/4" for a front position.
The pad isn't a major issue--- there are period repro pads available.

Don't mess with it. It's a ripoff of the first order!!!

Where did you say it was located?

SRH

The most appropriate pad for an LC of that vintage would be a Silvers. I just bought an original Silvers for a Lefever from Galazan on sale for $50.00 which I thougt was very reasonable

Ironman, I would look into that serial number you gave. 218177 is from 1914. I have serial number 216962 a Grade 2E also, that letters it to January 12, 1914, and is 350 entries higher than the last numbered gun made. (After 1912 all guns now were noun grades, ie; Field, Ideal Specialty, etc. Pre-1913 they were all numbered grades except the Monogram and Pigeon, Grade 1, 2 3, etc.
Sometimes the serial numbers didn't fall in sequence, but that is quite a range from yours to mine.


I would definitely get a letter from the L.C. Smith Collectors Association to be sure what it is.

Just wanted to add, it is also the last Graded number gun in the ledgers.

SkeetX, That's kinda the problem. I like to hunt with every gun I own and this one is almost too nice to do that with. It points like your finger even with the 32" barrels and balances perfect with the english grip. F & F isn't a real good hunting combo for me, but spreaders and late season pheasants would be an option and possibly turkey in the spring.

I am not familiar with pre-13 elsies, allthough I do frequent the LC Smith site occasionally and have owned a couple of field grade Smiths. Those 32 inch barrels are way cool and you would never believe they are that long when you swing it. Twelve gauges usually don't do much for my pulse - but this one is much better than what I usually run across. I upland hunt with a Parker DHE 20, a belgian 28 and a German 16 - might as well have a 12 for long(er) range hunting.

I will go back and take some pics to make sure I'm not missing something. I'll post as soon as I get them. Thanks for the opinions and advice.

Here is my old Grade 3 12 gauge


and my old Grade 2 ten gauge

skeettx, your second picture is a Syracuse Quality 2 as it was referred to in a period catalog. In 1896, Hunter Arms changed the wording to Grade.

Why dither on this purchase? Buy it and if it's too nice you can trade for something else and make money. Does the gun have a safety?