Rare L.C. Smith Eagle Grade EE 30″ Full 12 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1917 C&R

SOLD FOR: $3,408.00

LSB#: LSB251207SJ021

Make: L.C. Smith

Model: Eagle Grade

Serial Number: 219681

Year of Manufacture: 1917

Gauge: 12 GA, 2 5/8” Shells

Action Type: Top Lever Opening Sideplate Boxlock Double Barreled Shotgun with Dual Triggers and Ejectors

Barrel Length: 30″

Choke: Left: Full, Right: Full, both fixed.

Sights / Optics: There is a brass bead fixed to the front of the rib. The top of the rib is finely checkered for glare reduction.

Weight: 7 lb., 9 oz.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered deluxe walnut with an ebony-tip splinter forend, straight grip, straight comb and serrated black hard rubber buttplate. There is a fill in the belly. The stocks have scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with some more notable scratches in the buttstock and one on the right of the forend in the center of the checkering. The top-left edge of the forend toward the front has some pooled finish. There are a couple of tiny cracks at the rear of the sideplates and the right-rear of the forend. The checkering is generally well defined, slighlty blunted. The LOP measures 14 1/8″ and 13 1/4″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The drop at comb is 1 5/8″ and the drop at heel is 2 1/2″. The plate has light wear, some nicks and scratches, with well defined serrations. The stocks rate in Very Good overall condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blued & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original, numbers match. The safety switch appears to have been replaced or customized with “*PZ*” stamped on the switch.

Bore Condition: The bores are mostly bright. There is infrequent minor erosion in the bores. The left bore has a small, shallow dent visible in the bore about 4″ from the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate 7+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 25% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is fairly evenly scattered wear on the barrels with strongest finish under the forend and on the top toward the breech-end. Much of the receiver has muted with some good color in interior surfaces and around the fences. Some worn areas are going to a light patinal. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The left barrel has a small, shallow dent about 4″ from the muzzle. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tooled with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly including ejectors. The barrels lock solidly to the frame. The safety is three-position, engaging automatically upon opening from the forward position, but having to be engaged manually from the rear position. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The history of the L.C. Smith firearms is quite interesting. L. C. Smith formed a partnership with L. H. Smith and W.H. Baker to manufacture a three-barrel gun in 1879. L. C. Smith took over the company in 1880 and in 1884 began manufacturing hammer shotguns. Smith became interested in a new-fangled invention called the typewriter, and sold the company in 1888 to John Hunter. Smith went on to form the Smith-Corona company and became a world leader in the manufacture of typewriters. The L. C. Smith shotguns manufactured by Hunter Arms went on to become some of the highest quality shotguns made in the United States. When Marlin bought the Hunter Arms Co. in 1945, they began manufacturing the same guns under the L. C. Smith Gun Company title. A fire caused destruction of most of the manufacturing capability in 1949 and in 1950, the factory was closed.

This is an L. C. Smith Eagle Grade shotgun that was made in 1917, chambered in 12 gauge with 30” barrels choked Full. The Eagle grade is set off by a bold-relief Eagle on the lever, ring-necked pheasant on the left sideplate and mallard duck on the right, each surrounded by a fine frosted stippling. They are fairly rare with a total of 562 produced from 1912 to 1939 across all variants. Of these, only 188 were produced as 12 gauge guns with 30″ barrels and only 8 were made in 1917, like this one. This would make a great addition to any L.C. Smith, double-barrel, American, or really any shotgun collection and should also make a fine field shotgun to this day, though there is a minor dent in the left barrel that may want to be pressed-out. Please see our photos and good luck!

-Bud