Make: L.C. Smith 

Model: Ideal Grade Featherweight receiver, Field Grade Barrels

Serial Number: FWS12739

Year of Manufacture: 1947

Gauge: 12 GA with 2 3/4” Chambers

Action Type: Top Lever Opening Sideplate Double Barreled Shotgun with Extractor

Barrel Length: 30"

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

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

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with splinter forend, capped pistol grip, straight comb, and serrated black hard rubber buttplate. The stocks have some light nicks and scratches. There is some finish wear and bubbling, most notable in the buttstock. There is a thin crack at the rear edge of the right sideplate. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 14" and 13 1/8" from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered light wear. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original to the parts. The forend iron matches the barrel, the guard matches the receiver. The barrel and receiver do not match each other.

Bore Condition: The bores are mostly bright. There is infrequent minor erosion in the bores. In this writer's opinion, the bores rate about 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is infrequent light wear, mostly on the barrels at the muzzle and breech. There are scattered light nicks and scratches. There is infrequent minor oxidation, mostly on the barrels. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good condition as not parts-original.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The safety engages automatically when the action is opened. The barrels lock to the frame with no play. 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 1947 and in 1950, the factory was closed.

This is an L. C. Smith shotgun with an Ideal Grade frame that was made in 1947. Its barrels are chambered in 12 gauge with 30” barrels choked Full, the barrels are not original to the frame. The shotgun is in Very Good condition, retaining 90% of its metal finish, scattered wear in the stocks, good bores and strong mechanics. This would make for a nice addition to any L.C. Smith, double-barrel, American, or really any shotgun collection and should also still prove to be a good option in the field. Please see our photos and good luck!