doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com L.C. Smith straight grip?

I had a question for all you Smith experts. I was thinking that I have only seen 1 L.C. Smith with a straight grip. So, it got me thinking that it must be pretty rare? Just wondered if they ever made them standard or was it just a option available on request? It seems to me the one L.C. Smith I had seen with a straight grip was a 12 gauge 00 grade. It looked original but I am no expert by any means. Any info would be appreciated

Dave B

I've seen a number of them - usually in the middle and upper grades. It was probably a special order item - like with Parkers. I don't know if I would call it rare, more unusual. I've seen fewer Smith with half-pistols on them.

Last year I just missed a nice, 16g 2E with a straight grip.

You can read more about what was offered by grade here:

http://www.lcsmith.org/shotguns/grades.html


BTW: of all the major American makers, it seems like Lefever made a lot of guns with straight grips. But proportionally, I don't know if they more than the others.

OWD

Dave: lots of straight and 'half pistol' or Prince of Wales grips prior to about 1900-1905, even on Trap and Live Pigeon guns (Hunter Arms did not designate a Double Barrel Trap Gun until 1920, but the GAH was won with Smith guns in 02', 06', and 11'.)

As said by others, there are lots of straight grips out there on the L.C. Smiths. It was not the most common grip used on them, but I would not say they are rare.

Just over 80% of all LC Smith guns produced were manufactured as low-grade models (Grade 00, 0, and #1 prior to 1913, Field after 1913, along with numbers of low-priced hammer guns from both production periods). The Smith customer always had his choice of grip style when placing individual/special orders directly with the gun works; but, as most low-priced Smith guns were made in advance of the hunting seasons to fill large orders for sporting goods and hardware stores 9and full pistol grips were quite popular during the Smith manufacturing era), original straight-gripped lower-grade Smith guns are rare. Although a full pistol grip was also popular on higher grade Smith guns, higher grades Smith guns with straight grips (from Grade 2 and Ideal and above) are not at all rare. In fact, some models of the Smith gun (Skeet Grade/Skeet Special) were built standard with a straight grip, unless othered otherwise. Avaialble, but seldom seen, stock options offered to Smith gun customers included monte carlo combs, a raised check piece, and skeleton butt plate.

And pics of all of the above are here
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery.fcgi?p=999&gid=15656750

1927 20 ga Ideal Grade refished with 3 position safety double triggers, 28" barrels mod/full.
As stated from Hunter Arms Co., "you can order anything within reason".

Here is a 1924 Eagle Grade with a straight grip. With Hunter Arms you could get anything you wanted if you had the cash to pay for it.

Topgun, I never thought of that. It makes sense to me. Also thanks to everyone for all the pictures of the straight grip Elsies. I think I need to find a nice 20 gauge Ideal grade with a straight grip! I appreciate all of the information.

Dave B