The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Steve Holmes on June 3, 2026, 6:36 pm

Looks like it was the 33 rd LC Smith made in 1890! 30 inch barrel, 12ga, 2 3/4 in chamber, IC/IC chokes.
It has a different: safety, barrel marking, very fine checkering, stock configuration, side plate shape, barrel trunion design, 3/4 inch butt plate with a dog and a duck and the LC Smith trap gun written on it . All these things are different from my other LC Smith guns. On top of the barrel is stamped English laminated steel.
There are two marks on the underside of each barrel, but I can’t make out what it is. Other than that, the only marking on the underside of the barrel is 30033. On the frame watermark is 30033 and on the other side of the watermark is patent Mar.29,83 July.13,86 and OCT.6,86.. what is it??

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Stephen Sipprell on June 4, 2026, 1:26 am, in reply to "LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

Hi Steve,
Great find! Is it stamped with a grade stamp anywhere? I have serial number SN30036 (a 10ga with stepped lock plates) and it is stamped as a quality 3. I know another member who has SN30041, and I have SN30043.
Thanks,
Steve

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Drew Hause on June 4, 2026, 7:11 am, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

It is likely that the rough forged tubes in the early 1890s were sourced from Birmingham.
This is a 1890 No. 3 with 3 iron crolle damascus and the Birmingham Proof House provisional proof mark

No. 1 with Laminated Steel

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Tom Garver on June 4, 2026, 7:13 am, in reply to "LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

Great find, Steve. I'm the owner of SN 30041 that Stephen referred to. He and I have a very friendly competition over finding these early guns. The trunion you refer to is what we call a rotary check joint that was used on all of the Syracuse guns beginning c. 1885 thru 1899 to about SN 73,000. The "marks" that you refer to on the underside of the barrels may be XX or XXX. If so your gun definitely deserves a research letter. Post photos if you can or send the photos to cedarclyffelodge@gmail.com and I'll post them for you

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Stephen Holmes on June 6, 2026, 9:25 pm, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

I’m not sure if it has a grade stamp where would I look to find one?

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Stephen Holmes on June 6, 2026, 9:37 pm, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

A picture of the barrels. Looks like a 1 and the mark shown in the laminated barrel above!

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Stephen Holmes on June 6, 2026, 9:40 pm, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

Looks like the laminated steel picture with a 1 above it I think. Posted a picture below

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by David Williamson on June 7, 2026, 8:53 am, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

Very early Hunter Arms Gun Co., that was still using the squared lug that was used on Syracuse L.C. Smiths. Could be a gun that was not finished in Syracuse ande sent to Hunter Arms in 1889. The "1" was most likely the grade and the carouche on the barrels looks to be a Birmingham (England) mark.

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Stephen Holmes on June 7, 2026, 6:18 pm, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

Thanks for the response. Sure learning a lot from you guys!

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Tom Garver on June 8, 2026, 6:22 am, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

Stephen, if your lockplates have no engraving your gun is a Quality 1. Quality 2 guns had a "sunburst" in the middle of the lock plate. Quality 3 and 4 supposedly weren't manufactured until 1894 but there are at least 3 examples of Quality 3 engraving on guns attributed to "XXX". The "XX" and "XXX" were all made 1890-92.

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Stephen Holmes on June 8, 2026, 3:37 pm, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

Thanks
What can I shoot in it!!

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Drew Hause on June 8, 2026, 5:17 pm, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

You should not shoot any shell in the gun until it has been evaluated by a qualified gunsmith with the interest, expertise and equipment (bore scope and wall thickness gauge) to properly do so.
Please see "Is my shotgun safe to shoot?" in the FAQs
https://www.lcsmith.org/content.aspx?page_id=274&club_id=43784

Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?

Posted by Stephen Holmes on June 9, 2026, 1:52 pm, in reply to "Re: LC Smith serial number 30033 info?"

Thanks Drew that was the information I was looking for. Appreciate it.

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