doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com lc smith collecting

There are Marlin Elsies from the 40's and Marlin Elsies from the 70's. I have a 1947 Marlin Elsie 12ga field grade and there is nothing wrong with it, other than being kind of plain. I think that is a much better choice than one of the 70's guns, and should hold more of its value. Found mine on the rack at one of the local black gun stores. Same chain, different store, found an Ideal Grade 16 Featherweight with 30" barrels in very nice condition at a very nice price. Bought my Crown Grade 12 after my cousin yelled across a dove field, "Hey, do you like LC Smiths?" Wasn't actively looking for any of them, but they are where you find them. Just keep poking around in nooks and crannies. I think the Ideal is one of the nicest models, and not terribly pricey in 12 ga.

I'll bet the rest of that story is worth listening to.

SRH

When Marlin bought L.C. Smith in 1945 the company's name was changed to L.C. Smith Gun Co. The prefix was FW S (no more regular frame guns made). These guns were true L.C. Smiths. In the 60's early 70's Marlin Gun Co. re-introduced the L.C. Smith gun, the prefix then was FW M, there were some problems in the very beginning doing their case hardening because all the old timers were either retired or had passed on. The Field Grade had a Simmons rib made out of aluminum that was epoxied on and used a different bluing process not rust bluing. The other model a Deluxe used a Simmons but this was a steel rib. Both were ventilated.
The best in my opinion were the pre 1913 guns. Also to note that the A3 when it first came out in 1894 was the most expensive gun made here or abroad. There was only a total of 19 made, 17-12 gauges and 2-20 gauges.
My favorite is the A2 first variation with the stepped lock plates.
These early Smith's very all very well made and very few are seen with the crack behind the locks. Guns equipped with the Hunter One Trigger had even less wood between the locks and it is a wonder how they held up at all if you have ever seen the inside of one.

This A2 Variation 2 would be a nice find in 14g. 1902 Supplee Hdw. catalog



Oops. 1904

David has covered this subject very well.

Do you own any of these doubles Jagermeister? Do you own an L.C. Smith? Do you own even a cheap worn out Crescent or Belgian clunker?

Do you own any doubles at all??? I didn't think so. Maybe you should stick to things you actually have some experience with, and post on some toy stuffed animal or kishka website.

There you go Jager, 12brd has a field grade LC Smith ready and waiting to go. Perfect for you.

Bobski, you have a PM.

Bobski, you saw how much I enjoyed my field grade model 16ga at the shoot in October. It is nothing fancy but a great shooter. I picked it up on Gunbroker in 2016 and see more elsies there often.

ks16....you ever going to check your 2 month old pms? :>
you coming again to the apr shoot?