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According to author William Brophy, fewer than 200 L.C. Smith A2 Grade shotguns were produced
bar and block of engraving at the breech end, “SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH FLUID COMPRESS STEEL” and “MADE TO ORDER BY THE HUNTER
ARMS Co. FULTON N.Y.” on the right and left barrels respectively, 1 1/4 inch wedges of scroll
at the muzzles, 2 inch wedges of scroll at either breech, and chambers measured 2 3/4 inches with automatic ejectors. The casehardened sidelock action displays oak leaf engraving on the
top side and floral scroll showing influence from classic English “rose & scroll” engraving surrounding six individual game scenes all in their own oval panel scenes. The left side shows a setter with a bird in mouth, a
pair of quail, and a pair of pointing setters in a field, the right has a pair of pointing pointers, two woodcocks, and a pointer with a bird in
mouth. The gun features bushed firing pins, double triggers, and tang mounted automatic safety switch. Beautifully figured, fancy fleur-de-lis style checkered splinter forend with ebony tip inlay and engraved fittings and round knob pistol grip stock with added inscription oval reading “SPECIAL ORDER GUN/SHIPPED TO C. GUGLOMO/VADER, WA. 5-26-1904/L. C. SMITH/ MODEL-A-2/HUNTER ARMS CO./FULTON N.Y.” and red rubber recoil pad. Unfortunately, no information on Guglomo could be located at this time. This gun is listed by serial number
on page 212 of William Brophy’s “L. C. Smith Shotguns” where the grade, gauge, and barrel length are confirmed and it is shown that less than 200 total A2 Grade guns where built
from 1892 to 1912 when production ended. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .728/.728 inches; choke constriction .035/.036 inches; minimum wall thickness .028/.027 inches; 1 3/8 inch drop at comb; 2 inch drop at heel; 15 inch length of pull; weight 7 lbs 14 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 98% plus professionally reapplied blue, traces of original case colors in some of the protected areas, tang professionally repaired, and overall minor handling evidence. The wood has been lightly sanded, otherwise it is very fine with a few dings and scratches and sharp recut checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 7,000 - 11,000
dog on point in a field scene. The various components including the breech end of the barrels have tight
scrollwork engraving. There is a gold inlaid band near the breech end of the textured solid rib and a low bead sight is at the muzzles. The underside of the
barrels are marked “-FLUID-STEEL-KR”, and a pair of English proofs are on the barrel flats. The matching serial number is on the left barrel flat, the left side of the water table, and on the lower tang. The “SAFE” marking on the upper tang is also inlaid in gold. It is mounted with a checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with fleur-de-lis style carved accents, attractive figure, and a hard rubber grip cap and checkered buttplate. Records for Cummings and Simon are not complete, but
those located indicate Simon was born in Austria in 1850 and worked as a gunsmith. He is known to have lived in Chicago in the 1880s and then Santa Rosa by 1899. His shotguns all appear to be built with English style actions and imported barrels. The few known Simon guns are attractive and nicely engraved. J. H. Cummings is
listed as among the attendees of the Atlantic City Hardware Convention who departed from Chicago on the Hardware Special in 1916. In 1920, he is listed as the district
passenger agent for the Chicago Great Western Rail Road based in Chicago. It is likely that Simon and Cummings had a business relationship while both were in Chicago, and they may have maintained that relationship or a friendship after Simon moved west. Measurements: Chokes: modified/improved modified. Chambers: 2 3/4 inches with a shared extractor. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .710/.716 inches; minimum wall thickness .038/.040 inches; 2 inch drop at comb; 3 inch drop at heel; 13 3/4 inch length of pull. CONDITION: Very good with 90% of the original blue finish and strong patches of original case colors remain. The balance has primarily a light gray patina or bright surfaces. There is some scattered minor marks and dings. The upper and lower tang have been repaired, and the barrels have been sleeved. The wood is very fine with crisp checkering and only scattered minor scratches and dings. The grip cap is mildly smoothed from handling and storage. The horn buttplate has had hand cut, coarse checkering added. The action functions excellently, and the markings and engraving patterns are crisp. This is a high quality custom shotgun and was likely cherished by Cummings. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
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LOT 3405
Scarce Documented Factory Engraved L. C. Smith/Hunter Arms
A2 Grade Double Barrel Shotgun - Serial no. 202214, 12 gauge, 30 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. Single white
bead sight on the matted concave
solid rib which shows a gold inlaid
SERIAL NUMBER LISTED IN THE BOOK L.C. SMITH SHOTGUNS BY BROPHY
LOT 3406
Very Fine Engraved Hammerless Double
Barrel Shotgun “Made Expressly for J. H. Cummings by J. Jos. Simon” - Serial no. 103, 12 gauge, 31 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. “MADE EXPRESSLY/FOR/J.H. CUMMINGS/BY/J. Jos SIMON, SANTA ROSA/CAL” is inscribed on the bottom of the Greener style cross bolt action. The trigger guard has a pair of ducks in a water scene. The right side of the action has a dog laying in a field scene and the left side has a