L.C. Smith 3E 12 Gauge – 75% FACTORY CASE COLOR, 32″ BARRELS

Here we have an amazing Hunter Arms Co. L.C. Smith Grade 3E, sn210893 built in 1910.  “What is so amazing?” you might ask, as they built over 2500 12ga. guns in Grade 3E.  The answer in one word…CONDITION!  I get to see a lot of fine guns in my work, but it is a rare day when I see a gun that is 112 years old that still has all factory original parts, remains configured exactly the way it left the factory, has 75% factory case color, 65% factory trigger guard blue, perfect screws, mirror bores, gorgeous French walnut stocks, superb checkering, NO CRACKS, and 32” BARRELS (1 0F ONLY 242 PRODUCED WITH 32” TUBES) that have tight ribs, mirror bores, and fit tight on the hinge pin and breech face with the lever right of center.  Most L.C. Smith enthusiasts are aware that the “PRE-1913” guns were superior to the later guns in the way of fit and finish, and that rarely do you see a split in the stock in these older guns because so much time and care was put into the inletting and finishing.  Even the frame sculpting and engraving were more finely tuned and elegant.  Of the 242 Grade 3E guns with 32” barrels ever produced, you can bet there are not more than a few dozen or so in such outstanding condition.  Look at the French walnut stock with gorgeous figure, superb checkering, and not a split or crack anywhere to be found.  The barrels retain factory bore diameters and factory chokes of F/F, mirror bores, and 26 thou minimum barrel wall thickness.  Even the stock dimensions are modern (see charts below) and the gun balances just ahead of the hinge pin and weighs 7lbs. 10oz.  At Vintage Firearms, Inc. (VFI) we inspect each gun before purchase, our 4 gunsmiths clean and service each gun as needed. For this Elsie, we stripped the action to the smallest parts, Ultrasonic cleaned and scrubbed all parts to shiny metal, inspected all for integrity and function, lubricated and reassembled, providing a VFI CERTIFIED GUN, a $375 service in our shop.  VFI CERTIFIED GUNS have a 90-day mechanical warranty providing confidence you are buying a fine shotgun that will provide years of service in the field.  NONE of the other sellers provide this service.  YOU COULD NOT FIND A BETTER INVESTMENT GUN, AS IT HAS IMPECCABLE CONDITION, DESIRABLE FEATURES, AND IS VERY USEFUL IN THE FIELD OR ON THE CLAYS COURSE.  You don’t see a lot of Grade 3E guns for sale, and when you do, they usually have a pad, bad dimensions, lots of wear, or worse.  This is a premium gun, offered at a fair price, for those that recognize the rarity and desirability of a high-grade L.C. Smith double gun from the Golden Era of American shotgun making with highly desirable 32” barrels.  Rarity, condition, and desirable features equals great investment.  Thanks for looking!

We employ full time gunsmiths on premises and can perform alterations to suit your needs within a few weeks of purchase. Common requests are: -stock bending to suit your particular requirements -addition of any specified butt pad to increase length of pull -alteration of chokes to suit your shooting preferences -lengthening of chambers and forcing cones -darkening stock color with penetrating stains -restoring any part of the gun including rust blue, charcoal blue, bone and charcoal case color, wood restoration and checkering recuts. If you like one our guns but it needs “tweaked”, let us know and we can quote you a time and price. Some enthusiasts like the guns “as found” and others want them “just so”. We often list guns as found and let the particular buyer choose how they want their gun to fit or look.