doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Entire LC Smith collection "Torched"

I believe this is a good example of an original gun.

Jim

Interesting. I have two, Pre-13 LC's with 90% case and these guns are not even close. Obviously, a real narrow base of comparison on my part. My kids used to bring me stuff like this and they called it finger painting. Got to be some very experienced collectors on the board that can look at these and give us their appraisal. It would help all of us who use the net for purchasing guns. I can't believe those bold colors are what Gaddy was putting out. Don't mean to drag this out, but this practice is spreading and thanks to ED#1 and Lander [his artist in residence] this is getting real ugly. Randy

I'm not trying to tout a dealer here, but Puglisi Gun Emporium usually has several high original condition Smiths on its website at any given time, and the pictures are pretty good quality. Jack Puglisi has developed his reputation over a lot of years, and if he says a gun is original, I'll believe him.

The only original Smith I have is a late 20's Ideal Grade with about 40% case remaining, and the colors have a definite rose-color hue to them, unlike anything in the "collection" on GunBroker. I have noticed a similar hue on some of the guns on Puglisi's site.

On a related topic, I found a Smith Speciality Grade today, looks like a late 20's gun, no case left but fabulous engraving. Wood is very nice, but the forend fit is terrible and the butt was fitted with a leather covered pad that has rotted off. It's a regular frame 12 with ejectors, and fluid steel barrels eyeball at 28", look original length (have the little dimples in the top and bottom rib ends at the muzzle). Downsides are several minor dings in the barrels that are visible on the inside, a small split in the ebony forend tip, and a couple of small chips in the stock (one by the sideplate and one under the left side near the frame bottom). Has what looks like a standard solid rib, but no gold line inlay near the breach. I'm tempted to buy it just for the engraving, but it's almost a project gun. Asking price is $2K, but I should be able to get it for less. Advice and comments welcomed.

I've added several more LCs to the Case Color PictureTrail
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=12588446&uid=6511424

There's also a good pic of a pair of grade 2, 10 ga LCs, in high condition, in a Shooting Sportsman Nov-Dec ad, run by Puglisi. It's at the bottom of a left page if memory serves.

And you can see them here also: http://www.pugsguns.com/displayItem.do?id=433

As per Brownells Catalog: Carbon Steel Heat treating
(think small parts)
Faint yellow 420 F, Rockwell 63
Light straw 435 F, 62
Dark straw 465 F, 60
Yellow brown 490 F, 58
Purple 520 F, 56
Dark Blue 570 F, 53
Blue gray 620 F, 50


Fine tip torch can make tight swirleys very easily.

As Replacement said it's a rose color, and there is nothing in any of the re-do's that have the rose color that an original Smith cc has. Brownell's in the above posting doesn't include red. The actual color is a red that evolves into a blue. Quite lovely indeed and seems very difficult to reproduce.

Thanks dogdigger-that's good infro
John Gillette of "Classic guns Inc." has the original engineering working spec's. for caseing the L.C. Smith. http://www.classicgunsinc.com/
If someone knows him, possibly he might made a comment?

Several more nice sweet Elsies added to PictureTrail
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=12588446&uid=6511424