L.C. Smith, snFWE77997, 1925, 20GA, 5lbs.12oz., Chokes M/F, 

I have the privilege of handling 1000’s of fine shotguns every year.  I love my job and I love L.C. Smith guns, the only successful sidelock of the vintage American double shotgun manufacturers.  This is one of those special Elsie guns, with a feel between the hands that puts a smile on your face, the ultralight weight of 5 ¾ pounds balancing this Featherweight framed gun perfectly on the hinge pin.  Most Featherweight Elsie 20ga. guns weigh over 6 1/2lbs., so finding a gun like this doesn’t happen every day.  This gun, snFWE77997 produced in 1925 under the Hunter Arms Co. banner, is a gun that generates that smile.  There were only 1100 Specialty Grades produced in 20ga., and only 286 made with 26" barrels, so THIS GUN IS RARE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACTORY CONDITION REMAINING ON THE WOOD, TRIGGER GUARD, AND ACTION.  At 5 ¾ pounds, she is   the perfect upland gun you can carry all day without fatigue and connect with birds both near and far.  Add the condition of this gun, with perfect screws, superb wood to metal fit, 75% factory case color (thin and fading but there), 99% dark barrel blue, 96% factory trigger guard blue, barrels tight on hinge pin and breech face, and factory wood with almost all the original factory finish, only a few light handling marks, great shooting dimensions to the factory butt plate, and you have a gun that is not often seen.   This is a VFI CERTIFIED GUN WITH A 90 DAY MECHANICAL WARRANTY the action and forend iron having been stripped to their smallest part, Ultrasonic cleaned, scrubbed, all parts inspected for integrity and function, properly lubricated and reassembled (a $375 service in our shop).  It has become very hard to acquire 2 ½” shotshells, so VFI SAFELY CUT THE CHAMBERS TO 2 ¾” AND THE FORCING CONES TO 1 ½” TAPERS TO ALLOW THE USE OF MODERN AMMO, PROVIDE BETTER PATTERNS, AND SOFTER RECOIL TO SHOOTER AND GUN (a $360 service in our shop). The gun is mechanically excellent inside and out.  Not bad for a 99-year-old gun, right?  From an investment standpoint, L.C. Smith guns are still under-valued, and are poised to increase in value.  This gun has all the most important features to create value for today’s shooter/collector; ie, lots of factory finish, unaltered stock with a buttplate, ultralight and balanced to perfection, completely cleaned and updated for modern ammo, low production numbers, and in the most popular 20ga. chambering. Everything needed for a vintage double gun to be useful in the field or at the traps has already been done to this gun.  As hard as it is to find a qualified gunsmith (and the year wait to get your gun back) this is a very valuable service VFI has performed for you in advance.  The only thing left to do is take her afield!  Parker has peaked in its growth spurt, Fox is in the middle of its rise to the top, and L.C. Smith is just beginning…a great time to invest in a fine Elsie.  WHAT A GREAT GUN!  Thanks for looking.

Barrels: 26"
Chokes:.018/.032 M/F
Bores: mirror bores
Bore Diameter:  .622/.620
Wall Thickness:  .031/.027
% Blue:  99%
Chambers:  2 3/4" 
Ribs: tight
Sights: front brass

Action: Tight-Right of Center
Ejectors:  timed
Receiver :  85% factory case color; faded but there
Screws:  excellent
Engraving: clear, sharp
Trigger: double-crisp
Trigger Guard Color: 96% factory charcoal blue

Stock:  capped pistol grip/splinter
LOP:  14 1/16"
LOP To End Of Wood:  13 7/16"
DAH: 2 9/16"
DAC:  1 1/2"
Cast:  neutral
Checkering:  excellent factory
Butt: factory plate