The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere

Posted by Mark Johnson on July 17, 2024, 8:42 am

I'm so grateful for all the excellent information here and am very glad I joined. My father left me a beautiful 12-guage Elsie and I'm simply trying to find out as much as I can about it. The oval quail & snipe engravings and chain Damascus barrel suggest it is a #3 grade, but I cannot find a grade stamp anywhere. The serial number (46767) is stamped on all the expected places with no extra letters, and I've looked on the barrel flats, water table etc. with no additional stamps found. I hope asking this is appropriate. I'm not trying to sell or establish value and I've studied as best I can the info here on the site. I'm just hoping somebody can help me confirm what grade this lovely Elsie is.

Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere

Posted by Ken Descovich on July 17, 2024, 9:57 am, in reply to "Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere"

If you remove the left sideplate there should be a number on the frame.

Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere

Posted by Mark Johnson on July 17, 2024, 10:16 am, in reply to "Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere"

THANK YOU SIR. ... Will do!

Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere

Posted by Tom Archer on July 17, 2024, 11:43 am, in reply to "Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere"

"If you remove the left sideplate there should be a number on the frame"

Hopefully that's true in this instance, but it's not always the case as I've seen a fair number of examples with no stamp beneath the lock plate; the most recent being a Monogram Grade listed in records as a Monogram but having no grade identifiers anywhere on the gun. Yours certainly appears to be a very fine conditioned example Grade 3 gun; and perhaps the best way to authenticate its grade would be to request a research letter. That said, I'm also aware that some serial number records in the 40XXX range are missing; hopefully this wouldn't be one of those. Thanks for sharing your beautiful Smith.

Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere

Posted by Trevor Rice on July 17, 2024, 2:29 pm, in reply to "Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere"
Edited by board administrator July 17, 2024, 3:05 pm

The stamp isn’t on the frame flat or the barrel flat? I’ve seen it between the forend lug and the barrel flat before

Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere

Posted by Mark Johnson on July 17, 2024, 3:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere"

Tom Archer, thank you for those kind words. Alas, I am afraid that this Elsie has a serial number that falls within the batch of those missing. I'm told it is very likely manufactured in 1899 and I'm planning to take it to a dealer with experience in these awesome guns.

Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere

Posted by Mark Johnson on July 17, 2024, 3:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere"

Thanks, Trevor. No luck with this gun. I haven't taken the plate off yet to look under it, but will report accordingly after I do.

Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere

Posted by Trevor on July 17, 2024, 4:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere"

Here are a couple of samples

Re: Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere

Posted by Mark Johnson on July 17, 2024, 5:27 pm, in reply to "Cannot find any grade stamp anywhere"

Thanks again for your help. I removed the lock plates and found the Grade 3 stamp.

Link: Grade 3 Stamp

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