2324

SCARCE 20 GAUGE L.C. SMITH NEAR FULL OPTION IDEAL

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
SCARCE 20 GAUGE L.C. SMITH NEAR FULL OPTION IDEAL

GRADE SHOTGUN IN HIGH ORIGINAL CONDITION. Cal. 20 Ga. 2 3/4". S# FWS30938 (1948). The 26" bbls. are fitted with raised matted ventilated rib & are marked "L.C. SMITH-20 GA.-Ideal-FULTON, N.Y. U.S.A." on top of right bbl. Bbl. flats are stamped with grade, chambers, serial number & Hunter proofs. Bottoms of bbls. are stamped "LONDON STEEL". Casehardened, featherweight, single sighting plane, post war action has all correct marks on watertable & features. Non automatic safety and selective "Hunter One Trigger". Action and sideplates are engraved in usual "Ideal" style, with large shaded acanthus within wiggle borders. Blued trigger guard with matching leaves on bow & has serial number on tang. Capped pistol grip buttstock of somewhat stump figured American walnut measures 14 1/16" over Mershon "Blue Line" pad with open side showing foam center. Matching, late style, large Schnabeled beavertail ejector forend, has bracing screw along with usual J spring release coupled with knurled secondary release in blued oval escutcheon. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS.: Bore Diameter: R: .613, L: .613. Restrictions: R: .021 (MOD), L: .011 (IC). Minimum Wall Thickness: R:. 040 , L: .032. STOCK: DAH: 2 5/8". DAC: 1 1/2". CAST: neutral. LOP: 14 1/16". WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 2 oz. CONDITION: exceptionally fine, nearly all original "as found". Bbls. retaining approx. 90% original blue with some thinning & browning. Action and lockplates retain 90% original casehardening color with some high edge wear. Top of thumb piece shows some silver. Blue on trigger guard shows some thinning & light scratches. Stocks retain over 90% of their original varnish which shows considerable checking & also some scattered marks. Checkering is very lightly worn. Varnish on grip cap has mostly flaked off. Replacement recoil pad is cracked & hardened & does not fit well. There is some marking on left side of butt from pad installation. Bores are bright & shiny. Action is crisp. Ejectors are strong. Trigger appears to work well. Screws show some use. It is estimated that fewer than 400 ideal grade guns were made in 20 Ga. Examples with all the features present on this well preserved example are very rare. (22-968/MGM). CURIO. $3,000-5,000.