SCARCE EARLY L.C. SMITH PIGEON GRADE EJECTOR GUN.

SN 2458. (ca 1896) Cal. 12 ga. 30″ Bbls with broad, slightly concave, matted rib with pigeon engraved on extension, are engraved “SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL” and “MADE TO Order BY THE Hunter Arms Co Fulton N.Y.” on tops. Bbl flats are stamped with SN, bottoms of bbls with Whitworth Sheaf of Wheat trademarks, and heavy splinter “PE”. Typical early standard weight action with bushed strikers features automatic safety and checkered double triggers. Action is engraved with feather bursts on and behind fences, and sprays of scroll. Lockplates are engraved with nicely cut areas of scroll as counterpoint to well engraved scenes of pigeons in detailed backgrounds; pigeon perched in field on left, and flying pigeon on right. “L.C. SMITH” is at bottom of each lockplate. Trigger guard with scroll on bow, has SN at grip. Dense, mottled American walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/8″ over serrated composition buttplate. Fleur-di-lis fancy checkering with line borders wraps over grip. Matching splinter ejector forend with fleur-di-lis ribbons through near full checkering, has inset ebony, slightly schnabeled tip, and typical J-spring catch with sliding push-button secondary release in round escutcheon. Bore diameter: left -.724, right -.722. Bore restrictions: left -.035 (full), right -.017 (Mod). Minimum wall thickness: left -.029, right -.026. Drop at heel: 2-7/16″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 7 lbs 8 oz. LOP: 14-1/8″. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbls retain most of their orig blue, thinning overall, with considerable wear above forend. Action retains 40 – 50% orig case hardening color, balance silver with some mottled brown. Lockplates retain 80 – 90% of their orig color, slightly faded overall. Trigger guard retains nearly all of a re-blue, engraving thinned. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig finish, grain raised on forend and around action, with added oil on butt. Bores are exceptionally fine, with just a hint of frosting at breech ends. Action is tight. Ejectors fire prematurely, cases bounce off of breech face. A lovely, early L.C. Smith with lots of original finish. Pigeon grade guns are very rare, with approximately 1200 made. 4-55306 (6,000-10,000) – Lot 2602

Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2602	$6,490.00	SCARCE EARLY L.C. SMITH PIGEON GRADE EJECTOR GUN. SN 2458. (ca 1896) Cal. 12 ga. 30″ Bbls with broad, slightly concave, matted rib with pigeon engraved on extension, are engraved “SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL” and “MADE TO Order BY THE Hunter Arms Co Fulton N.Y.” on tops. Bbl flats are stamped with SN, bottoms of bbls with Whitworth Sheaf of Wheat trademarks, and heavy splinter “PE”. Typical early standard weight action with bushed strikers features automatic safety and checkered double triggers. Action is engraved with feather bursts on and behind fences, and sprays of scroll. Lockplates are engraved with nicely cut areas of scroll as counterpoint to well engraved scenes of pigeons in detailed backgrounds; pigeon perched in field on left, and flying pigeon on right. “L.C. SMITH” is at bottom of each lockplate. Trigger guard with scroll on bow, has SN at grip. Dense, mottled American walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/8″ over serrated composition buttplate. Fleur-di-lis fancy checkering with line borders wraps over grip. Matching splinter ejector forend with fleur-di-lis ribbons through near full checkering, has inset ebony, slightly schnabeled tip, and typical J-spring catch with sliding push-button secondary release in round escutcheon. Bore diameter: left -.724, right -.722. Bore restrictions: left -.035 (full), right -.017 (Mod). Minimum wall thickness: left -.029, right -.026. Drop at heel: 2-7/16″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 7 lbs 8 oz. LOP: 14-1/8″. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbls retain most of their orig blue, thinning overall, with considerable wear above forend. Action retains 40 – 50% orig case hardening color, balance silver with some mottled brown. Lockplates retain 80 – 90% of their orig color, slightly faded overall. Trigger guard retains nearly all of a re-blue, engraving thinned. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig finish, grain raised on forend and around action, with added oil on butt. Bores are exceptionally fine, with just a hint of frosting at breech ends. Action is tight. Ejectors fire prematurely, cases bounce off of breech face. A lovely, early L.C. Smith with lots of original finish. Pigeon grade guns are very rare, with approximately 1200 made. 4-55306 (6,000-10,000) – Lot 2602 Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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SCARCE EARLY L.C. SMITH PIGEON GRADE EJECTOR GUN.