doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com LC SMITH "O" or maybe Field Grade?

Hi Forum,

A family member has had this in his posession for some time and wanted to know more about it. I am not too entrenched in LC Smiths so thought I would post here for any comments. The gun looks like it was barely shot. bores are mirror. There is a little surface crud on the barrels towards the end but not much. The checkering looks like it was cut yesterday but is obviously original and the case hardening is very good. The rib on the bottom is solid black...maybe from age or maybe this is the way they were delivered?

Anyway all feedback is appreciated.

Thanks,

KC

This is a grade O
1895 No. 0 Grade ($42) was added.

1907 311,529 to 318,079
12 and 10 gauge

KC, very nice condition 0 Gr. Without looking up the date it was made, but in going by the 5 pin lock, I would say 1907, as this was the only year that this happened. The barrels would be Laminated Steel and some state this on the top of the barrels.
After 1912, the 0 gr. became the Ideal Gr.

Nice L.C. Smith "O" grade on the regular frame with extractors.........the book says serial 313284 was made in 1907.....hammerless guns that year Hunter Arms made 6,550 extractor and 2,274 ejector 10 and 12 gauge guns.......1,044 16 gauge guns......and 235 20 gauge guns in 1907.....

Your family members gun is in nice condition......are you planning on purchasing the gun or just using it, or neither...?


Best,

Hi, thanks for the reply. I am not really interested in purchasing it or using it. While I like the gun, my interest are elsewhere at the moment. I am not sure what the family member wants to do with it. He just wanted to know more about it and if it has any collector interest.

Also, the comment above on "laminated steel", it does not say anything on the barrel rib. It looks like decent grade damascus to me. Again the bores look like they were made yesterday...not a scratch.

Here is a start

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=313872657

Times 2 ??

Looks to be Smith "Good Two Rod Damascus" http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17116222
Any maker's mark just forward of the flats?

What can be seen without cleaning is the #4 on each barrel? Not sure if this helps?

Thanks Drew!

I would disagree with the post above that states that the 0 grade became the Ideal grade after 1913. I have seen that written before, but it doesn't make it any more correct. The only difference in some 0 and 00 grades is a little bit of border engraving, and the Damascus barrels on the 0 grade versus steel barrels on the 00 grade.Some 0 grades didn't even have the border engraving. After 1913, a field grade could be ordered with Damascus barrels at additional cost, but the Ideal grade had a lot of engraving and better wood than the field grade, and could have either steel or Damascus barrels. I believe that a table that shows the comparison of pre and post 1913 guns should indicate that both the 0 and 00 grades were replaced by the field grade, and the Ideal grade would compare to the grade 1 guns, or based on the amount of engraving, to both the grade 1 and grade 2.

By way of comparison, the 'Panic of 1907' hit the U.S. economy, and U.S. gunmakers, hard and prices fell significantly 1908 to 1913.
From the 1908 Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue:
..................................1907 Hunter Arms List Price
No. 00 Armor Steel - $25.00.......$25; AE $50
No. 0 Damascus - $32.00...........$47; AE $60
No. 1 Damascus - $42.00...........$60; AE $80

1917 Barker-Jennings Hardware Company, Lynchburg, Virginia
Field - $32.50; AE - $42.50
Ideal - $42.50; AE - $54

More price comparisons here https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1OTND2bQH0vhlbCf7c2sN8H1vzmT7xagUSXhewGB03SE