L C SMITH Grade 1E 20 GA

[Bob Jurewicz]

This one found its way to my safe on Friday. It is a 1911 Grade 1 with Ejectors and Hunter One Single Trigger. Only 113 Grade 1 20 GA guns were made and who knows what small portion of those had both Ejectors and Single Select Trigger. I'm not a great fan of Smiths but with this one it was love at first sight.
Bob Jurewicz

[charlie cleveland]

looks like you have a keeper....charlie

[Richard Flanders]

I could be a Smith fan..... until I had to take one apart.... and get the floorplate back on without mangling it. This one you got looks like a nice one. Nice side plate colors and engraving.

[Brian Dudley]

I am not super familiar with Smith grading of that period. I have seen guns with the walked borders, but not with that scroll work in combination with it.

Looks like a nice gun.

[Bob Jurewicz]

According to "L C Smith The Legend Lives" thils is an example of late grade 1 engraving started in 1908 and was replaced by the Trap Grade in 1918.
Bob Jurewicz

[Rino Grassa]

Very Nice! and an FW Frame, any idea what it weighs?

[Bob Jurewicz]

Rino,
It weighs 5 Lb 15 Oz.
Bob Jurewicz

[Rino Grassa]

Rino,
It weighs 5 Lb 15 Oz.
Bob Jurewicz

Sweet!!!!

[Bob Jurewicz]

By the way Rino, how could you determine it was a FW Frame from the pictures I posted?
Bob Jurewicz

[Robert Brooks]

Back when i was collecting Smith guns i never could find a grade one ! Bobby

[Rino Grassa]

By the way Rino, how could you determine it was a FW Frame from the pictures I posted?
Bob Jurewicz
The extra sideplate screw (forward section of the plate) the regular frames have just the one screw....that Elsie has a lot going for it.....what is the Barrel length and choke configuration? Looks unmolested too!

[Rino Grassa]

I would get a Letter for this nice LC

[Bob Jurewicz]

26" Barrels.
Right Bore - .616" .020" Choke
Left Bore - .615" .024" Choke
Bob Jurewicz

[Chris Robenalt]

Great little keeper! I have the same engraving on my 12. I wish mine had your case colors. I like Smiths, especially when you find one like yours! You might check your front plate screws, make sure they're on the correct side. Looks like the left screw isn't recessed correctly.
Chris

[Drew Hause]

Only 36 Grade 1 20g with 26" barrels were manufactured.

Unfortunately, information on shotguns produced 1890 to 1917 is usually limited. Generally, the shipping records include only the shipping date, manufacturing date, barrel length, gauge, and grade.
But you might get lucky with the original purchaser in a Research Letter
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=43784&module_id=245742

The FW frame was introduced with the 20g in 1909. There MAY be a few 20g guns made prior to then on a Regular frame, but no one, other than Pine Creek Dave ;) has seen one.

Hunter Arms did not lengthen the 20g chambers from 2 1/2" until 1936.

The No. 1 was discontinued when the Trap Grade was introduced in 1913.

[Bob Jurewicz]

I sent for a letter today. Thank all who responded to my post!!
Bob Jurewicz

[Dave Noreen]

By the way Rino, how could you determine it was a FW Frame from the pictures I posted?

L.C. Smith collectors are still looking to find that long rumored 20-gauge on a regular frame. While a few 16-gauges were built on the Regular Frame, normally 16-gauges, as well as all 20-gauges and .410-bores are on the Featherweight frame. They produced 12-gauges on both the Regular Frame and the Featherweight Frame. Regular Frame --

89611

Featherweight Frame --

89612

A quick glance at the shape of the lockplate shows the difference.

[Rino Grassa]

Dang, my 00E 16ga is on a regular frame but it is nicely balanced and it kills birds real good.... I thought the 20's came with both the regular and FW frame

[Brian Dudley]

The featherweight frames were Actually all different between the gauges.

[Robert Brooks]

Russ Ruppel told me years ago that he had seen a 20 gauge on a regular frame but i never have. Bobby

[charlie cleveland]

I did have this guns cousin...it was a lc smith 0 grade with single trigger and ejecters..weight 5 lbs 6 ounces....its gone now but not forgotten...you have a fine gun...charlie

[Bob Brown]

I like your grade 1, Bob. I've got this 00E grade twenty on a light weight frame and she is a nice little gun. Made in1909 if I remember correctly.
89705

89706

89707

[Bob Jurewicz]

Bob,
That's a beauty!
Love the wood!
Bob Jurewicz

[Chris Robenalt]

My buddy shoots a nice straight stock 16 that's built on a regular frame.

[Bob Jurewicz]

Received my Factory Letter yesterday (Wow that was quick).
This gun is one (1) of three (3) Grade 1 20 GA guns with 26" barrels and ejectors. How many of these three had the Hunter One Single Select Trigger is unknown. Recording of that factory option did not begin untill 1918.
The Letter was packed with great information on my gun, Grade 1 guns in general and Hunter Arms and L C Smith.
Bob Jurewicz

[charlie cleveland]

you have a great gun...charlie

[Rino Grassa]

Nice Gun Bob!! Really Nice