Page 400 - 4095-BOOK3

LOT 3552
Rare Documented Factory Engraved and Relief Gold
Inlaid Hunter Arms Co./L. C. Smith Premier Grade
Double Barrel Shotgun with Case - Serial no. RE134903,
12 gauge, 30 inch vent rib bbl., blue/casehardened/gold
finish, walnut stock. This fine shotgun is listed by serial
number on page 214 of William Brophy’s “L. C. Smith
Shotguns” as one of just 28 of these Premier Grade guns
manufactured, with this particular gun being shipped
from the factory on March 2nd, 1931. The gun is listed as
a 12 gauge “REOBV” with 30 inch barrels meaning that it is
a regular weight gun with ejectors, a Hunter One Trigger,
beavertail forend, and ventilated rib barrels, it is also listed
as having shipped with an extra barrel set, which is not
present at this time.
Built with blued barrels featuring dual white bead sights
on the matted flat vent rib which is hand engraved “L. C.
SMITH Premier GRADE” surrounded by scroll engraving
and “SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL”
and “MADE TO ORDER BY THE HUNTER ARMS Co. INC.
FULTON, N.Y.” hand engraved on the right and left tubes
respectively. The barrels also feature 1 inch wedges of
scroll engraving at either muzzle, dual wedges (1 inch and
2 1/2 inches) of scroll at either breech, standard markings
aside from the hand cut serial number on the jeweled
flats, and 2 3/4 inch chambers with automatic ejectors.
The barrels are fitted to the stunning casehardened
sidelock action which displays relief gold inlaid bunches
of grapes on the carved fences as well as extensive
floral scroll engraving surrounding floral bouquets on
either side of the action bar in addition to a trio of relief
engraved gold animals, before spilling off of the action
and flowing onto the toplever, triggerguard, and both
tangs. The gold animals consist of a pointing setter on the
left lockplate, a partridge on the underside of the action,
and a pointing pointer on the right lockplate, all showing
fine detail. The action has a jeweled watertable with hand
engraved serial number and Premier Grade marking. The
gun features Hunter One Trigger and a tang mounted
manual safety with gold inlaid “SAFE” indicator.
According to "L.C. Smith Shotguns" by William
Brophy, only 28 L.C. Smith Premier Grade
shotguns were produced in this configuration.
398