L C Smith Shotgun

[Warlock18]

My father gave me his shotgun a few weeks ago, and I have no idea what it's worth, or what to do with it. Anyone who can give me more information, I welcome all of it. Thanks in advance.

[tnlrat37]

My dad has the same one but in a 16 ga that was his grandfathers. these guns values are all over the board from 800-up to 5000$ or more.

http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/worth.html

You can also look on gunsamerica or gunbroker to find something similar. My dad will never sell his because its a family heirloom and I had to promise not to sell it also and to keep handing it down.

[powderedtoastman]

Looks like it's in good condition, with possibly a replaced stock? I have the same thing, made in 1927. Trying to find somebody to fit a new stock is a B&^$#!

[anti]

Post the pics on shotgunworld and you'll get better responses.

[NapalmCheese]

So, here's my interpretation:

It appears to be an L.C. Smith Field grade 12 gauge (no kidding right?)

Seems to have a fair amount of case colors on the locks, though the finish on the barrels seems worn, indicating it was used.

The stock seems too pristine to be vintage.

Given that the barrels say Armor Steel on them, and that there's no indication of of the left barrel saying "Hunter Arms Co." I'm going to assume that it is a Marlin produced LC Smith from the 1940's or so. That the barrels do not have a choke designation on them likely means that both barrels were choked full. So far as I can tell, L.C. Smith produced guns that were choked full/full so that the end user could have a gunsmith open them to whatever the end user wanted; often they were left as is.

A picture of the water table, that is the part of the frame that the barrels attach too (more specifically the flat part of the frame the lumps insert into and the 'face' where the firing pins protrude) will tell more. It should be marked FWS or R and have your serial number on it.

Always ensure that your gun is cocked before removing the splinter fore end. You can cock this shotgun by simply opening the action.

It's value is somewhere between $200 and multi-thousand dollars. The Field grades tend to not bring a lot of money, but usually fetch upwards of $500 unless they are really messed with. If the stock and fore end is new that can hurt the value unless the rest of the gun is restored. There are two markets for these kind of guns: one that wants the gun worn and used, and another that wants the gun pristine looking and restored. Worn and used but in good shape usually brings more money than pristine and restored.

[NapalmCheese]

Yours (given the frame shape) appears to be a featherweight.

I'm going to bet it's a marlin produced LC Smith. I would wager it has an FWS prefix to the serial number on the water table and was produced between 1946 and 1950 on original L.C. Smith tooling by Marlin.

If the above is true, it is a fine shotgun, as fine as any LC Smith made before the factory floor collapsed in 1950. If it is well worn there is no reason to keep it from more honest wear, shoot it, hunt with it, enjoy it; the exception being if you are trying to collect it as opposed to 'own' it and the stock is starting to crack (not uncommon behind the tang).

In the future, if you find that you pull the splinter fore end off of the iron (often the wood is oil soaked and very soft) I can tell you how to fix it.

[NapalmCheese]

Oh yeah:

http://www.lcsmith.org

[Thefeeder]

><

Dang Napalmcheese ...you know L C.s

I concur...stock is almost a sure bet refinished or replaced.

[NapalmCheese]

Dang Napalmcheese ...you know L C.s

I concur...stock is almost a sure bet refinished or replaced.

Heh, thanks!
When I research, I research. It just so happens that I have a soft spot for earlyish shotguns, the more American the better, the more SxS the better. I'm still kicking myself for passing on a good Dan Lefever in Nevada that locked up tight but had it's lever too far left.

[Thefeeder]

Remember what Tuco said " If your going to shoot, shoot, don't talk"

Take care and lets get together and break some clay someday

[Warlock18]

My father told me that everything on it is original.

[Ducky's Dad]

From what I can see in the pics, the gun looks right. The only question in my mind is the finish on the wood, I would expect a bit more gloss. Could be it was buffed down with steel wool, or could just be odd lighting for the pics. I bought a similar gun about five years ago for $600: 1947 FW 12 with 30" barrels and lots of original case color, original butt plate, completely unmessed with.

[NapalmCheese]

My father told me that everything on it is original.

If it is all original then that's awesome.

Snap a pic of the water table for us would you?

[Bigyates]

I have a couple of LC's. agree with most of what's been said; value 800-1200.

[Warlock18]

Took these a couple of minutes ago