doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com '69 vintage marlin L.C. Smith

My Dad called me last night and told me he wanted to give me his standard grade L.C. Smith he bought new back in 1969. He hasn't hunted with it in years and the last time I saw it it was in great shape. Just out of curiousity, what is one of these worth in good shape?

I've coveted this shotgun every since I was eleven (when he brought it home)

Thanks

$600 to $800. There were only 2,351 of the '69/'72 Field Grades made. The serial numbers started at 56801 and went to 59152.

In adding to what Don said, the prefix for those guns would be FW M56801--. The FW meaning Featherweight and the M for Marlin. When Marlin took over from the L.C. Smith Gun Co in 1945 the first guns produced were in 1946 starting with serial number FW S1. From hear until the end of company only Featherweights were made.

I appreciate the information. That's the only L.C. Smith of that vintage I've ever seen

Don't forget, there were 189 Deluxe grades made with Ser.# starting at 100,xxx. They have deluxe wood, beavertail forend, and a Simmons vent rib. The standard grade has a splinter FE and an aluminium (polychoke?) rib.

I have two of the standard grades. One was new and unfired when I purchased it earlier this year. It also has very nice wood and is mint in every way.

I hunted with my other FWM in Montana last year and it turned out to be an outstanding choice.

By the way, I don't think you'll find one at $600-800. If you do, give me a shout.

Tom, I have one of the Deluxe Field grades. The steel Simmons rib is much nicer than the Poly Choke rib on the standard field grade and the wood is outstanding.

Don, I believe you replied to a post I had immediately after I bought the second FWM.
You are the only one I know of that has one. I have yet to see one other than in the 1971 catalogue and in Brophy's book.
Incidently, Marlin no longer honors the "lifetime" warrantee on these guns. I wanted some trigger work done on the second gun and was told that they no longer repair or do warrantee work on these guns. The trigger pulls are in the 10lb. range and I don't trust anyone locally to do the work. I've paid dearly in the past for having the wrong person work on doubles.