L C Smith Ideal Grade

[Dean Romig]

My friend Dorothy has recently got ahold of her grandfather’s or great-grandfather’s 12/28” LC Smith Ideal Grade (ser. no. 346715 R) that appears to be in very nice original condition. Case color is about fully there but certainly not as vibrant as when it was made. I’m not as well versed on Elsies as I am on Parkers and I know I can order a letter from the LCSCA but I thought a lot of you are very astute on these guns and she’s curious as to an insurance value?

She also has a Belgian Browning Light Twelve…


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[CraigThompson]

You need to bring the Ideal to the Vintage Cup . I’m sure of you walk up to Frank Finch carrying that thing it’ll put a smile on his face !

[Drew Hause]

I'm afraid not. The DOM is 1914.
The subject gun.
I believe someone, in an attempt to 'color' the action and lockplates applied some sort of darkener (it doesn't really look like cold blue) and likely blued the barrels also - unless it's a shadow, look at the lower aspect of the barrel at the breech.
The pin heads are stained black

https://photos.smugmug.com/LC-Smith/1913-1950/i-JjNSFwD/0/d2fe856a/L/86E87391-AA4E-42FE-846B-B50DEF718DF6-L.jpg (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/LC-Smith/1913-1950/i-JjNSFwD/A)

Original Ideal. The lockplate connector screw and FW forward lockplate screws were case colored. Also note the 'halo' around the pins, that were not case colored.

https://photos.smugmug.com/LC-Smith/1913-1950/i-dg4gHJT/0/76eb9e2b/L/Screenshot%20%281961%29-L.png (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/LC-Smith/1913-1950/i-dg4gHJT/A)

I can't tell if the stock has been refinished.

Not a lot of market interest today in altered 12g vintage Smiths, but it could be a decent shooter, depending if the chokes have not been messed with.

[Dean Romig]

Thank You Both...

I haven't had the gun in hand yet but when I do I'll be able to look more closely at it.
Once again, I'm not up to speed on LC Smiths.





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[Bill Murphy]

Dean, regardless if the gun is refinished as Drew suggests, I like it, as well as the shot of your knee. Much as I like and respect Reverend Drew, I would like a second opinion.

[henderson Marriott]

The value might be between $2900-3900 for insurance purposes.

I have a family Specialty Grade Smith 20 GA with two sets of 32 in barrels with forends.
The balance is superb. Original 1923 shotgun.
But like Frank S.-I really like the Long Range
3 in LC Smiths-they are amazing on geese and turkey-own two of these artillery pieces.