The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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Long Range Specialty Grade Questions

Posted by Stuart Clark on August 12, 2025, 4:15 pm
Edited by board administrator August 12, 2025, 4:45 pm

I have a longrange specialty grade, 12 gauge, that was built in 1924. Was a beavertail forend the standard configuration for that vintage gun?
Also,it came with a second barrel with a non-matching serial number. 28 inches, marked "custom grade". The underside notes "longrange" and, under the serial number has "field". The "custom grade" is confusing to me. Does it just denote a custom order?

Re: Long Range Specialty Grade Questions

Posted by Drew Hause on August 12, 2025, 5:03 pm, in reply to "Long Range Specialty Grade Questions"

Stuart: the Long Flat (also offered in extra-length) BTFE was introduced with the 'Trap Package' in 1920; a Schnabel BTFE in 1922.
The Skeet Style BTFE was introduced in 1929 and later was available as a Streamline Slim BTFE in both short and long.

Dr Jim's "Production Records" show a single Field grade LRWF with a BTFE. Have you requested a Research Letter for 83434? Of course, a BTFE could have been added at a later date.

It appears that Field was removed and Custom engraved. It likely originally looked like this

If you'll post an image of the BTFE we might be able to say if it appears to be from Hunter Arms.

Re: Long Range Specialty Grade Questions

Posted by Stuart Clark on August 13, 2025, 1:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Long Range Specialty Grade Questions"

Thanks for the information! From the pictures would you say that it's a Schnabel BTFE?

I have not yet requested a research letter on the extra barrel, but I just received one on the Specialty Grade 66574 (image attached).

BTFE

Posted by Drew Hause on August 13, 2025, 3:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Long Range Specialty Grade Questions"

It appears to be a factory Schnabel BTFE. And your Field barrels do have the Reinforcing Wedge generally used with the heavy BTFEs

Schnabel above and the Long Flat below

It would be very interesting to know how the single Field LRWF with a BTFE got with your Specialty, or if it was a later addition.
If you are a LCSCA member, Dr. Jim will check the Field SN shipping record for you
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=43784&module_id=245742

Brigadier General George H. Estes

Posted by Drew Hause on August 13, 2025, 3:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Long Range Specialty Grade Questions"

This may be him, on p. 10 & 11
https://dn790003.ca.archive.org/0/items/camptravisitspar00camprich/camptravisitspar00camprich.pdf

Re: Brigadier General George H. Estes

Posted by Drew Hause on August 13, 2025, 3:12 pm, in reply to "Brigadier General George H. Estes "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Henson_Estes

Re: Brigadier General George H. Estes

Posted by stuart clark on August 13, 2025, 5:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Brigadier General George H. Estes "

I'm pretty certain that it was originally his gun, too. I've searched through the 1920 federal census. There were thirteen George H. Estes and twelve were either farmers, laborers or clerks, which makes it unlikely that they had the discretionary income for this gun. If I broaden the search to ignore the middle initial and eliminate the children, my potential population expands to 64. But again, all but three are falling outside the farming/laborer/clerk/or REALLY old occupations. And from further research using different sources,two of those have something other than "H" as a middle initial. Which leaves BG George H. Estes.

I love a good research project, particularly when the pieces fall together.....

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