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ONE OF THE MOST HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT L.C. SMITHS

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:17,500.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 75,000.00 USD
ONE OF THE MOST HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT L.C. SMITHS

EVER OFFERED AT AUCTION, THE ADMIRAL PEARY GRADE 5E 12 BORE WITH CASE AND SUPPORTING PROVENANCE. This well known gun made by the Hunter Arms Co. for Admiral Robert Edwin Peary Sr. to be taken on his expedition to the North Pole in 1909 which was strongly supported by President Theodore Roosevelt at the inception of the expedition. Cal. 12 Ga., 2 3/4" chambers. S# 8785. Bbls. 30". The gun itself is a 12 ga. Grade 5E built w/ matted concave tapered rib w/ sm. white mid & front beads that has sm. ring of engraving at muzzle, wedges of scroll towards breech & bbl. legend that reads "MADE TO ORDER BY THE HUNTER ARMS CO. FULTON, NY" w/ inlaid gold bar toward breech end. Polished bbl. flats w/ SN & grade designation. Replacement splinter forend checkered in point pattern w/ fully scroll engraved irons & banjo roll type release w/ triangular ebony tip, case hardened & scroll engraved interior. The case hardened action beautifully engraved in standard Grade 5 pattern w/ 2 setters in game scene on left lock surrounded by scroll & floral burst at back & "L.C. SMITH" in scroll banner at front. Bottom of action lightly floral & scroll engraved w/ well done bouquet of flowers at center of trigger plate. Right lock w/ 2 pointers in game scene w/ well cut floral rose & scroll surrounding & makers name towards front. Trigger guard engraved w/ rose & scroll & finely gold inlaid signature "RE PEARY". Tang w/ 2 engraved screws & lightly scroll engraved w/ SN in banner. Gun made w/ Hunter One single selective trigger, automatic ejectors, non auto safety. Top of action w/ beaded fences & floral scroll which extends to top lever & top tang which also has gold inlaid "S" in front of safety. Water table w/ hand engraved patent dates, SN & breech face w/ bushed strikers. Professionally replaced walnut buttstock checkered in 2 point pattern through the wrist w/ ball grip has flowing grain & terminates w/ a tan colored leather covered pad w/ sm. widows peak at top. This well known gun is featured in a full length "Double Gun Journal" article published in the Fall, 2010 (Vol. 21, Issue No. 3), written by L.C. Smith expert & historian Tom Archer w/ photography by Terry Allen detailing the known history of this gun, the fascinating story of the expedition. This gun was awarded an NRA silver medal for best historical display at the NRA convention in Charlotte, NC in 2010. This gun is found by S# in the expedition logs according to our consignor. Our consignor purchased this gun from a widow in Virginia in the early 2000's & at the time of purchase she withheld the trigger guard for an unknown reason. After a couple of years, our consignor was able to retrieve the trigger guard from the widow & bring the gun back together. At that time, he had the gun professionally restored in all aspects including professionally replaced stocks & metal finishes. Interested parties should review the comprehensive Double Gun Journal article for full details & provenance that is available on this fine Smith. Measurements: Right: .730", choke: .027"(mod.) Left: .730", choke: .040"(full). Minimum wall thickness: Right: .016"(bottom of right bbl. before chokes, most other areas into the .020"s), left: .023". DAC: 1 1/2". DAH: 2 1/2". LOP: 14 1/2" from rear position single trigger. Weight: 7 lbs., 15 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is accompanied by a silver medal commemorating the North Pole discovery April 6, 1909 by the U.S.S. Roosevelt which is housed in a sm. black frame & a set of 3 photos of Peary, 2 from the expedition wearing heavy wool clothing, 1 photo in full uniform & a 4th which is a panel which appears to be an original signature. Also accompanying the gun is an old brown leg o' mutton case w/ embossed gold signature on butt cap. Gun is currently housed in a green canvas case w/ brown leather appointments, makers trade label on top of inside & has green felt interior. CONDITION: extremely fine as competently & professionally restored. Bbls. retain more than 98% of their fine rust blue finish w/ well done polish marks at breech ends & perfectly crowned muzzle. Action retains nearly all of its dark, bold, restored case color. Engraving detail still quite nice w/ only minimal thinning of engraving in a couple of areas. Trigger guard retains most of its restored blue w/ thinning at grip & grip screws are replacements that show some marring. Buttstock & forend are very well done replacements, they are sound & retain most of their custom finish w/ only minor handling marks. Bores are bright & shiny. Gun is tight & on face. Single trigger functions well w/ right bbl. firing first. Ejectors are fine. Stocks are sound. J-spring is very strong and a lot of force is required to remove the forend. Early leg o' mutton case w/ staining & rub marks. Cap has been re-sewn which is of a different leather. Embossed signature shows some wear. Canvas case is very good w/ some minor staining & rubs. Pictures are all very good. For the collector/investor who seeks historically important objects, this L.C. Smith has an absolutely fascinating history & is widely recognized by collectors for its importance & its intrigue. (22-1069/JSL). CURIO. $35,000-75,000.