L.C. Smith 20 ga year of Manufacture

[Murdock]

Have located a field grade, featherweight Elsie in 20 gauge, about 20% finish for the metal, and zero for the wood, although the wood is sound. Looks like somebody was getting ready to refinish the gun, but got stopped before irreparable harm was done. Locks tight, bore excellent and the locking lever slightly to the right when in battery. 28", modified and improved-modified. In its current condition I see this as about a $600 gun, tops.

Serial is 1152XX, and it has a 3-position safety. The best info I can find says a manufacture date of 1929, but with the 3-position safety I find that doubtful, as most of the 3-position safety guns seem to be 1913 and earlier. Maybe the safety was changed later, or made as a special order?

Can anybody help with nailing down when this gun was made?

 

[hoghunting]

Try www.lcsmith.org as they have plenty of information there.

 

[Murdock]

Thanks, Hoghunter. That's where I got the 1929 date of manufacture.

 

[hoghunting]

Try this site as there are very knowledgeable Elsie experts there:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/index.php

 

[JohnBT]

The 3-position safety was standard on early guns and an option thereafter. Now I have to find a reference. Okay...

www.lcsmith.org/faq/safety.html

"...patented by Alexander T. Brown and Wilbirt Smith in 1886. It was standard on Hunter Arms Company guns from 1895 to 1902. Then it became available as a special order option until 1945."