L.C. Smith Crown Grade

[Setter Man]

This may be blasphamy but I can only get so fired-up about Parker engraving. I guess it is all relative. To me, this is the benchmark for any American shotgun:

[John D.]

Hi Jay..!

I moved your post to a new thread, OK? As well - while I really like the crown grades, I also find that the floorplates tend to be sparser then what I'd expect on a higher grade gun? As always - yes, it's personal taste..

John
(also - is this your Crown? - Stunning!!!)

[Setter Man]

John,

No problem with the move. I wish it were my Crown, but it is not. Even though Elsie's have more "canvas" on which an engraver can work I have seen some Parkers with relief-type engraving.
Not that anyone has to defend Parker, I believe that there were only 800 Crown grades made and these are their top-shelf guns so I guess we really need to compare these to the AAHE and A-1 Special guns.

Cheers,

Jay

[Dean Romig]

The 'art deco' frame sculpting of the Smith is unmatched and the large palette of the lockplates lends itself very well to the engraver's imagination, but -

Originally Posted by Jay Gardner

To me, this is the benchmark for any American shotgun:
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You can't be serious

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Jay Gardner

John,

Not that anyone has to defend Parker, I believe that there were only 800 Crown grades made and these are their top-shelf guns so I guess we really need to compare these to the AAHE and A-1 Special guns.

Cheers,

Jay

Jay, undoubtedly Crown grades are/were beautifully engraved they were not L.C. Smith's top-shelf guns, in fact they were positioned to compete with Parker Bros. BH guns. During the era when Crown grades were built 1913-1945 they were Smith's fourth from the top offering. Smith's top-of-the-line model was the Deluxe, then the Premier, then the Monogram, then the Crown, followed by the Eagle, Specialty, Trap, Ideal and Field grades.

Even more impressive, in terms of engraving--at least to my eye, were a couple of Smith's offerings prior to 1913, those being the Quality No. 7 and A2 models with stepped lockplates.