The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
[ The L.C. Smith Collectors Association ]

skeleton buttplates

Posted by Bryan Emch on May 10, 2020, 7:22 pm

how common were skeleton buttplates on Elsies and what is the lowest grade seen?

LCS factory installed skeleton buttplates

Posted by Jent P Mitchell III on May 11, 2020, 8:37 am, in reply to "skeleton buttplates"

Factory installed skeleton butt plates on LCS SXS shotguns did happen but they are rare in my opinion. I have seen a few, very few, pictures of true factory installed LCS SXS skeleton butt plates. I believe I did see in person a factory installed LCS skeleton butt plate at The Southern SXS Shoot a few years ago...... posted by Jent on May 11 of 2020.

Re: LCS factory installed skeleton buttplates

Posted by Drew Hause on May 11, 2020, 10:05 am, in reply to "LCS factory installed skeleton buttplates"

1902 Monogram Skeleton Buttplate courtesy of Mike Harris.
Surviving Parker Bros. records include orders from Hunter Arms for single skeleton buttplates for $.75 minus a 15% discount for a net charge of $.64.

Courtesy of Tom Archer

Posted by Drew Hause on May 11, 2020, 10:07 am, in reply to "Re: LCS factory installed skeleton buttplates"
Edited by board administrator May 11, 2020, 10:08 am

The Skeleton Butt was an option available on virtually all grades of the Smith gun on customer request throughout the lifetime of the gun works. A cost schedule from the Hunter Arms engraving department dated 9/19/41 and prepared by Albert Kraus breaks the engraving cost into two categories; OLD Style and NEW style.
The Old Style listed skeleton butts as available in Grades 1 thru A-4 at a cost of 15 cents for the Grade 1 up to $8 for the A-4 Grade (the A-3 was $3).
The New style covered the Ideal Grade thru the Deluxe Grade with engraving shop costs for the Ideal at 15 cents and the Deluxe at $8. These quotes clearly represent the engraving shop costs only; this was not the price the company charged the customer for this option.

Re: LCS factory installed skeleton buttplates

Posted by Tom Archer on May 11, 2020, 10:09 am, in reply to "LCS factory installed skeleton buttplates"

Factory installed skeleton butts on Smith guns are very uncommon; but were always an option on special order in spite of the fact that I haven't noted any period catalog references. The lowest grade gun with such plate I'm aware of is an early 1890's vintage quality 2 gun. A PGCA member has reported seeing orders from Hunter Arms for skeleton butt plates in the Parker records, so maybe Parker was the source for a Smith gun skeleton butt when special ordered? I have a copy of a 1941 engraving cost schedule created by Albert Kraus and in that schedule is noted the shop cost of engraving skeleton butts in all grades; both pre and post 1913 models. At any rate, an original LC Smith with a factory skeleton butt is a great find.

Re: Courtesy of Tom Archer

Posted by Tom Archer on May 11, 2020, 10:12 am, in reply to "Courtesy of Tom Archer"

Thanks Drew, obviously we were responding simultaneously. Have a great day
Tom

Re: skeleton buttplates

Posted by Bryan Emch on May 12, 2020, 7:47 pm, in reply to "skeleton buttplates"

thanks for the knowledge and info. gun in question was a grade 3 extractor 12 which I believe has an original skeleton buttplate. thanks again for the responses. I will try to post a photo.

Re: skeleton buttplates

Posted by Garry Gordon on May 15, 2020, 6:24 pm, in reply to "skeleton buttplates"

Are there hints to identifying originality in the factory skeleton buttplates? I have an early grade 4 with one. The Smith collector I bought it from believed it to be original. Unfortunately, there are no records for the gun.

Re: skeleton buttplates

Posted by Bryan Emch on May 16, 2020, 7:27 am, in reply to "Re: skeleton buttplates"

Research letter states that skeleton buttplates were never recorded in the ledgers so I would say to myself, does it look right? Fit and finish, length of pull and wear.

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