doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Guns in their original boxes

After reading the Vintagers thread I see where a few guns were offered there still in their original boxes. I have always found guns like this interesting. Of course the box is only a collector piece, but it does add alot to the story of the gun. I own one such gun, a 1921 Trap Grade L.C. Smith that has been fired but remains in very high condition, as is the original box and hang tag.

When I purchased this gun I was very intrigued by the box itself. I researched but never came to any conculsion on when guns (of any make) first started being shipped in Cardboard boxes. Does anyone here have any info or research material to answer this?

I think it's a neat story to show and tell on how or why someone in 1921 would keep the original box and the original packing paper inside the box. Some people just didn't throw anything away!





Next picture shows the orignial packing material. The paper in the upper portion of the box is not original, but the paper in the lower portion of the box is what the gun was originally packed in.











Excuse all the pictures, but wanted to ask the questions and also show that when someone exhibits the care to keep and preserve the original box a gun came in, more often than not, the gun will remain in high condition too, at least it seems that way to me.

Were the FWS prefix doubles made in the late 1940s, i.e. FWE(ejector) 42709 - 1949?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

It is also a clue as to what prized posessions such guns were for their owners; all of 'em down through the years.

Raimey,

FWS guns were made from 1945-1950. FW means Featherweight, the E means ejectors. The gun has no "S" in the prefix and thus isn't a gun produced by the L.C. Smith company while owned by Marlin between '45-'50.

Trap grades were introduced in 1913 and were discontinued in 1939. The serial number 42709 puts this gun as a 1921 era gun and it was ordered by Von Lengerke & Antoine, Chicago, IL verified by a Cody letter showing the gun is in the original configuration as it was when it left the factory.

Jason H:

I was curious because I have a L.C. number FWE69267 as a 2 barrel set & I didn't know what year.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Those old stained boxes and tags numbered to the piece actually do much to sell the guns. Why would "Holmes" of Throwaway Society keep piece of cartboard? That's a conundrum for sure!

Raimey, your gun dates to 1924.

Raimey,

The FW (featherweight frame) was introduced in 1909 if I recall correctly. The serial number you gave comes back as a 1924 gun. I am doing a very in-depth study on L.C. Smith guns made between 1920 and 1925 and would very much like to discuss this with you on your gun. What grade gun is it? I will continue this off board if you wish.

The serial numbers affixed to L.C. Smith guns can be confusing as number blocks were reused multiple times through out history. When looking up the numbers, you must know if it's a pre 1913 gun, a post 1913 gun or a post 1945 gun, as the numbers were reused in those blocks, if I am saying that correctly.

Getting back to your gun, your serial number falls RIGHT in line with my research project and thus I would very much like to speak to you about it, especially with the 2 barrel set and more importantly IF IT HAS A HUNTER ONE TRIGGER.

Raimey, your gun does date to 1924 as Laxcoach stated. Marlin produced guns FW S didn't start until late in 1946, even though Marlin owned them through bancruptcy in 1945 from the L.C. Smith Gun Co. Marlin continued in 1945 and part of 1946 putting together stock on hand and keeping the serial numbers in sequence with the the L.C. Smith Gun Company numbers. Also guns made by Marlin were only Featherweights. Serial number FW S1 a Crown Grade 12 ga 28" barrels, shipped Sept 19, 1946, given to Frank Kenna president of Marlin as a gift.

Jason the Featherweight came out when the 20 ga did in 1907.
I have a 1928 Ideal Grade, ejectors and had a Hunter One Trigger but someone back then was smart enough to put a Millers One Trigger in it's place. An early one with the selector on the safety, forward, right barrel, back ward, left barrel. A much better design, how could you ever select the barrel on a Hunter set up with the gun mounted?