2158 FINE LITTLE 20 GA. SPECIALTY GRADE L.C. SMITH.

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,500.00 USD
Estimated at 5,000.00 - 6,500.00 USD
Cal. 20 Ga. 2 3/4". S# FWE17392. The 28" bbls. have all correct factory markings on the tops; breech ends w/ some scroll engraving. Bbl. flats are stamped w/ serial number & grade marking "S". Bottom of bbls. w/ nitro steel info. Case hardened sidelock action w/ classic rotary bolt, automatic safety, and dbl. triggers, engraved in the usual "specialty" style w/ about 50% coverage lg. shaded scroll. Lockplates have a near-full-coverage matching scroll that surrounds game scenes on the sides. A trio of quail are hiding in cover on the left lockplate, and a mallard takes wing over a marsh on the right. "L.C. Smith" is in a rectangle at the front of each lockplate. Blued trigger guard w/ scroll on bow has serial number on tang. Attractively fiddle-figured American walnut straight grip buttstock measures 13 3/4" over ribbed hard rubber buttplate. Point pattern checkering wraps over the top of the grip. Matching splinter ejector forend w/ inlet ebony tip has the usual J-spring and secondary release in a guitar-shaped escutcheon. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: R .616", L .614". Restriction: R .003" (IC), L .014" (MOD). Min. Wall Thickness: R .019", L .028". STOCK: DAH: 2 3/8". DAC: 1 1/2"+. LOP: 13 3/4". CAST: neutral. WEIGHT: 6 lb., 3 oz. CONDITION: very good to fine, as found original. Bbls. retaining 60–70% original blue w/ considerable overall thinning & some light handling marks along w/ normal hand wear toward the breech end. Action & lockplates retain over 60% of their original case-hardening color, which is quite strong where protected. Balance is bright silver, fading to 50 shades of gray. Trigger guard retains most of its original blue. Stocks retain most of their original oil finish, w/ a good number of light & heavy marks. Checkering is dark and slightly worn. Bores are bright & shiny without any noted problems. Action is tight. Ejectors are on time. There are very light incipient stress cracks behind lockplates. A fairly scarce gun, it is estimated that about 1,100 "specialty" grades were made in this gauge, very few with straight grip stocks. (22-2245/MGM). CURIO. $5,000-6,500.