Make: L.C. Smith

Model: No. 3

Serial Number: 205918

Year of Manufacture: Finished May 7, 1906

Gauge: 12 Gauge

Chamber: 2 3/4"

Action Type: Sidelock, Break-Action Side-By-Side with Automatic Ejectors and Hunter One-Trigger

Barrel Length: 32" and 30" (second factory-fitted set)

Choke: Fixed.

32": Left measures .030. Right measures: .035.

30": Left measures .000. Right measures: .000

Receiver & Engraving: The No. 3 was a respected medium-grade model, often referred to as the “$100 gun” when introduced in 1894. The sidelock plates are engraved in traditional No. 3 style, typically with game scenes inside oval panels and light scroll engraving on the frame. The locks and frame were originally color case-hardened. The engraving remains clear and attractive, and the receiver retains the refined proportions characteristic of L.C. Smith sidelock doubles.

Stock Configuration & Condition:The stocks are two-piece walnut with ebony tipped splinter forend, straight grip, straight comb, and a black Decelerator recoil pad currently installed. The walnut displays strong figure and pleasing grain contrast. There are scattered light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The wood has been replaced. The checkering remains well defined, and the wood-to-metal fit remains attractive. The stocks rate in Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color. All serialized parts are matching.

Finish Originality: Professionally Restored.

Bore Condition: The bores of both barrel sets are bright. There is no erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate 10 out of 10.

Weight:

32” installed: 7lbs 12.1oz

30” installed: 7lbs 9.3oz

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish on the barrels is strong and complete throughout. The case color has somewhat muted to silver with some case color vibrant in the protected areas, especially on the water table and under the lever. Markings remain legible. The engraving is crisp, and the overall presentation reflects a well-preserved American sidelock double. Overall, this shotgun rates in Fine Plus condition as professionally restored.

Mechanics: The action functions properly. The shotgun features automatic ejectors and the Hunter One-Trigger system as confirmed by factory records. The gun locks up with appropriate feel for a sidelock double of this period. Both barrel sets fit the action. We did not fire this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Documentation: This shotgun is accompanied by a factory research letter from the L.C. Smith Collectors Association confirming serial number 205918 as a 12 gauge No. 3 with automatic ejectors and 32-inch Nitro steel barrels, finished May 7, 1906, and later returned to the factory to be fitted with a second set of 30-inch 2E barrels.

Our Assessment: When this L.C. Smith No. 3 left Fulton, New York in May of 1906, it embodied the confident stride of America’s golden age of sporting doubles. The No. 3 stood proudly in the Hunter Arms catalog as the so-called “$100 gun,” a mark of quality and aspiration among serious sportsmen. Built with 32-inch Nitro steel barrels and automatic ejectors, it represented a purposeful configuration in a year when long-barreled twelve gauges were produced in limited numbers. The addition of a second factory-fitted 30-inch 2E barrel set only enhances its story, reflecting a time when sportsmen returned trusted guns to the maker for refinement rather than replacement.

By the early twentieth century, the 12 gauge had firmly established itself as the dominant American sporting cartridge, equally at home in upland fields and marsh blinds. Nitro steel barrels signaled full confidence in smokeless powder loads, while 32-inch tubes offered a smooth, deliberate swing ideal for waterfowl and driven birds. The optional 30-inch 2E set provided a more responsive handling profile, giving this gun remarkable versatility in the field.

With documented factory history, dual barrel sets, automatic ejectors, and the Hunter One-Trigger system, this No. 3 represents a refined and historically grounded American sidelock double. It carries the quiet authority of a gun built for hard seasons and careful stewardship, and it remains a compelling example of early twentieth century sporting craftsmanship. The 32-inch barrels represent the original configuration, and in 1906 only 243 of the 2,592 twelve gauge No. 3 guns produced featured 32-inch barrels, and only 184 of the 243 had automatic ejectors making this an very uncommon specification.