very true - how many times have you been to an auction and no one will bite on the first offered opening bid, so the opening gets lowered once or twice and then the bidding starts.

next thing you know- the same people who would not raise a hand to the original open are now bidding several times more than that to stay in the race.

James Stubbendiecks book L C Smith Production Records show the serial numbers of 46 8 ga guns and this gun is not listed. There are extra heavy barreled 10 ga guns that could be converted, I hope that is not the case here.

i watched and looked at lc smith 8 ga s for most of my life ...i counted every one i ever heard of...i would safely say there in no more than 60 lc smith 8 gauges ever made....charlie

Arent the known LC Smith 8 gauges all listed as being made in 1897-98 a one year time frame ? The one in question claims to be from 1901 .

Milton if you are going to start collecting the 8 ga guns I would suggest getting the most up to date books available as in James Stubendiecks book if you are looking for L C Smiths. If you are going after Parkers get the latest and greatest Parker books.

I have my eye on a 10 ga Parkers I may be able to pick up soon .

What would be some good Parkers books ? Are there any specifically about the larger frame Parkers ?

Actually Ive been trying to find info on grade 1 hammerless guns out of curiosity .

The Parker Story 2 volume set is the best reference you will find

i am not aware of any books concentrating on just big bores for any of the makers

i know of a lc smith 8 ga made in 1916 and of one msde after 1918...charlie

A BigBore collector friend who passed about 5 years ago had 9 LC Smith8 bore guns and they have yet to hit the market. I’ll be one of the first to know when they tentatively do

I wonder if Parker made any 8 gauges after 1918 ?

Are there records for LC Smiths that can tell what the gun is by the serial number like with a Parkers ?