doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com LC Smith Grade 4

For my two-cents, better pix would seriously aide in evaluating this Smith; but based on what I see (or think I see) here, this example is suspect. I believe I've seen as many Grade 4 Smith guns as anyone, and I've never seen a Grade 4 from any production period that did not have engraving or matting on the short rib between the rib joint and rib extension. The simple roll-stamped maker's name and address seen here is common to only the lower grade pre-13 Smith guns. And although the poor pic of the barrel flats leaves a degree of uncertainty, the pic appears to show blued barrel flats. All the original Grade 4 Smith guns I've seen either had jeweled barrel flats, or flats polished bright; that was a feature Hunter Arms used to distinguish higher grade guns from their lower grade offerings. And although I haven't seen all 15 of the cataloged Grade 4 20-bores, I've seen several and have yet to see a Grade 4 20-bore without auto-ejectors; anyone have the Houchins book handy that can check that fact? If it is original, I would say that a Grade 4 Smith 20-bore with manual extractors would indeed be a rare bird. Before you buy this gun be sure to invest in a research letter, which are available thru the LC Smith Collectors Association; and verify basic gun specifications beginning with gun grade. Auction prices are crazy at the moment, but if this is a flat new original; I believe it would fetch more than $20K at auction, as 5-6 years ago a gentleman arrived at the Southern Side x Side with a rare and virtually mint 4E Smith 16-bore that fetched $23K as I recall.

After listening to some of the comments by the more knowledgeable LC Smith guys here, and looking at the photos again, I would lean also to this gun being a very nice refinish and possible upgrade.
JR

Doug, You're right the hole does look like a "graphic" dot like covering the serial number! I did go back and looked at the unaltered picture on the camera and the drilling there. Topgun and everyone I am listening and learning and appreciate all the comments. I would like to submit the info for a letter but is there a quicker way to ge the info than sending everything through the mail? Is it possible to get the info over the phone or email while waiting for thr official letter?

Yes, all the "orginal uncopied" FACTORY records/ledgers for L.C. Smith, Hunter Arms, Marlin, Winchester etc. are housed in the Cody Firearms Museum Records Office........call them direct and no time is wasted....if you were a Cody Museum member (and you can be) they would give you the information over the phone, but they can take a credit card over the phone and will send you their Museum L.C. Smith Factory letter......Phone -307-578-4031....Fax - 307-578-4079....email: cfmrecords@bbhc.org......

http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/records.cfm

I always use the Cody Museum where I'm a member, not the collectors association where I'm not a member...Just my opinion......

If you are a member, you can call them from gun shows or wherever and retrieve information on the spot.....The museum employees attend, with a table and a museum records link, most of the big gun shows......

The Cody Museum Firearms Office in Cody, Wyoming is open six days a week and is prompt with responses using full time employees, nice folks......suggest you give them a call, you won't be disappointed......

Best,

In my opinion, the best source of information on LC Smith guns is the LC Smith Collectors Association. The LCSCA has copies of all the records from Cody, and has put them into a digitized format. In addition, Dr. Jim Stubbendiek, the holder of the LCSCA records, is a very knowledgeable LC Smith collector who knows the LC Smith guns. Jim has spent countless hours with the LC Smith records while digitizing them and correcting errors that have been published in older references. While I assume that the Cody employees are helpful and willing to assist, I doubt that any one of them has the expertise that Jim now has with the LC Smith records.

To say I am "far from an expert" would be an understatement.

To my eye, though, those case colors look too new to be over 100 years old.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=290653&page=1

http://members.boardhost.com/lcsmith/msg/1357341571.html

Dang that thing's been around more than the Kardasign girls ... ;-)

Be Safe All, Jimmy B.

Jimmy B.

If this gun, on this thread, is the same gun as you show in the old Double Gun Link that we all talked about last year, then it now has a different set of barrels and a completely different forend, minus the ejectors, barrel rib matting, different case colors, different thumb lever checkering, different trigger guard blueing, etc........I think the gun in your link is a different gun entirely Jimmy.....

Different Kardashian, used but not abused.

Different guns. The one I posted about was a featherweight, had ejectors and a single trigger plus all the other things Doug mentions. They case coloring and engraving on this one looks very different IMO.