L.C. Smith shotguns were manufactured over a period of nearly seven decades by four companies. Lost is much of the manufacturing chronology. In general, the annual catalogs tell when certain features were added, but inspection of shotguns has revealed that certain features were added earlier or removed from the lineup later. For example, there was not a clear end point for the pre-1913 shotguns. Many were made in 1913 and later. Likewise, Field, Ideal, and Specialty grade production started in 1912 and these grades are mixed with No. 00, 1, and 2 grades in the ledgers.
One of the primary complications to L.C. Smith chronology is that serial number blocks were reused up to three times. The L.C. Smith Collectors Association is fortunate to have a copy of the production records which provide dates of manufacture, but many of the features and options are not listed in the ledgers. Connecting the date of appearance or disappearance of a feature, such as the first type of ejectors or the Curtis forend release, to a date helps to complete the production chronology.
YOU CAN HELP! We invite you to look at the categories and submissions. If you have a shotgun that you think is older than the “Earliest,” newer than the “Latest,” heavier than the “Heaviest”, etc., please sent the information to Jim Stubbendieck. The date of manufacture will be checked in the records (if the record cannot be located, the shotgun cannot be included in the Chronology), and your entry will be posted if it beats the current entry. Be creative and submit entries for new categories. Information about your shotguns may help to assemble information on the manufacturing chronology. This page will be updated weekly.
Earliest Single Sighting Plane Rib
Serial Number 175051 (May 23, 1939), 20 gauge Skeet Special Grade submitted by Ralph Hanson.
Earliest Curtis Forend Release
Serial Number 340022 (September 28, 1912), 12 gauge Damascus submitted by Rolf Henretty.
Earliest Rectangular Forend Latch
Earliest Second Type of Ejectors
Serial Number 2031 (April 3, 1896), 12 gauge Pigeon submitted by David Rosamond.
Earliest Featherweight Frame
Serial Number .
Earliest Two-Piece Top Tang
Serial Number 37702 (1894), 10 gauge submitted by Ed Onwiler.
Earliest Horizontally Grooved Triggers
Serial Number 925 (1894), No. A-1 12 gauge submitted by Joe Ray.
Earliest Fluid Steel Barrels
Serial Number 1130 (1894), No. A-1 12 gauge with Crown Steel barrels submitted by Frank Finch.
Earliest With Miller Trigger
Serial Number 213404 (March 3, 1911), 12 gauge No. 00E submitted by Chalmers Culbreath.
Earliest With Selective Hunter One-Trigger
Serial Number 2031 (April 3, 1896), 12 gauge Pigeon submitted by David Rosamond.
Earliest With Nonselective Hunter One-Trigger
Serial Number 138768 (October 9, 1934), 12 gauge Field Grade submitted by Bill Winter.
Earliest with Infallible Trigger
Serial Number 86506 (August 17. 1926), 20 gauge Specialty Grade submitted by Skip Dunlap.
Earliest Single Sighting Plane Rib
Serial Number 14724 (August 28, 1936), .410 Field Grade submitted by Tom Martin.
Earliest Ventilated Rib
Serial Number.
Earliest Live Pigeon Shotgun (no safety)
Serial Number 2198 (June 19, 1896), 12 gauge Pigeon Grade submitted by Larry Ruppert.
Earliest 3-Position Safety
Serial Number 43626 (1897), 12 gauge No. 0 submitted by Frank Hosna.
Earliest Straight Stock
Serial Number 2371 (September 25, 1896), 12 gauge submitted by Duane Hauer.
Earliest Skeleton Butt Plate
Serial Number 925 (1894), No. A-1 12 gauge submitted by Joe Ray.
Earliest Long Range (3-inch chambers)
Serial Number 55710 (March 26, 1924), 12 gauge Field Grade submitted by John Johnson.
Earliest Beavertail Forend
Serial Number 187505 (August 21, 1940), 12 gauge Field Grade submitted by Duane Hauer.
Latest With Convex Ribs on the Bottom of the Frame
Serial Number 1047 (March 6, 1896), 12 gauge No. 2 submitted by J. David Williamson.
Latest Live Pigeon shotgun (no safety)
Serial Number 211446 (June 22, 1909), 12 gauge No. 3 submitted by Richard Thompson.
Latest Curtis Forend Release
Serial Number 21768 (March 10, 1920), 12 gauge Ideal Grade submitted by Frank Hosna.
Latest with Firing Pin Bushings
Serial Number 209380 (1908), 12 gauge No. 2 submitted by John Chew.
Latest with Damascus Barrels
Serial Number.
Latest 3-Position Safety
Serial Number 124816 (May 12, 1930), 16 gauge Field Grade submitted by Terry Olson.
Latest 2-Screw Trigger Guard
erial Number 51354 (November 24, 1922), 12 gauge Ideal Grade submitted by J. David Williamson.
Latest Factory Installed Sling Swivels
Serial Number 66003 (March 17, 1924), 12 gauge Ideal Grade Long Range submitted by John Chew.
Latest Two-Piece Top Tang
Serial Number 216016 (April 17, 1913), 12gauge Trap Grade submitted by Dan Branton.
Latest Regular Frame
Serial Number 200980 (May 22, 1942), 12 gauge Field Grade submitted by Sam Cordes.
Latest Long Range (3-inch chambers)
Serial Number 115196 (December 4, 1928), 12 gauge Field Grade submitted by Frank Hosna.
Latest Horizontally Grooved Triggers
Serial Number 4509 (October 20,1900), 12 gauge Pigeon Grade submitted by Frank Jones.
Earliest No. 00
Serial Number 96881 (1898), submitted by Frank Hosna.
Earliest No. 0
Serial Number 43626 (1897), 12 gauge submitted by Frank Hosna.
Earliest No. 1
Serial Number 33896 (1891), 12 gauge submitted by Frank Finch.
Earliest No. 2
Serial Number 31449 (July 1890), 12 gauge Damascus submitted by Jim Reid.
Earliest No. 3
Serial Number 2620 (December 8, 1897), 12 gauge Damascus submitted by Jim Schrader.
Earliest Pigeon Grade
Serial Number 2032 (April 3, 1896), 12 gauge submitted by David Rosamond.
Earliest No. 4
Serial Number 37611 (July 29, 1894), 12 gauge Damascus submitted by Phil Carr.
Earliest No. A-1
Serial Number 923 (August 23, 1893), 12 gauge submitted Norm Growden.
Earliest No. 5
Serial Number 2126 (April 25, 1896), 16 gauge submitted by Stan Middleton.
Earliest Monogram Grade
Serial Number 3778 (June 30, 1899), 12 gauge submitted by Bruce Bonney.
Earliest No. A-2
Serial Number.
Earliest No. A-3
Serial Number 1108 (1894), 12 gauge with Whitworth barrels submitted by Tom Breedon.
Earliest Field Grade
Serial Number 215263 (October 31, 1912), 12 gauge submitted by Will Sanders.
Earliest Ideal Grade
Serial Number 215726 (January 28, 1913), 12 gauge submitted by Ben Clinton.
Earliest Trap Grade
Serial Number 216016 (April 17, 1913), 12 gauge submitted by Dan Branton.
Earliest Skeet Special Grade
Serial Number 107201 (April 13, 1928, 12 gauge submitted by Tom Carrier.
Earliest Premier Skeet Grade
Serial Number 54989 (February 24, 1950), 12 gauge submitted by Walt Pomroy.
Earliest Specialty Grade
Serial Number 340022 (September 28, 1912), 12 gauge Damascus submitted by Rolf Henretty.
Earliest Olympic Grade
Serial Number 137221 (May 27, 1932, 12 gauge submitted by Ed Matter.
Earliest Eagle Grade
Serial Number 46396 (July 26, 1922), 12 gauge submitted by Walt Pomroy.
Earliest Crown Grade
Serial Number 7762 (July 15, 1914), 20 gauge submitted by Jon Weber.
Earliest Field Grade (Marlin 1968-71)
Serial 58721 (1968), 12 gauge submitted by Frank Hosna.
Earliest Deluxe Model (Marlin 1968-71)
Serial Number 100015 (1971), 12 gauge submitted by Jim Stubbendieck.
Earliest Single Barrel Trap (SBT) With a Compensating Rib
Serial Number 601 (April 19, 1918), Specialty Grade with pistol grip and banjo escutcheon submitted by Tom Breeden.
Earliest Eagle Grade SBT
Serial Number 9847 (April 24, 1919), 32-inch barrel, submitted by Jim Reid.
Earliest Crown Grade SBT
Serial Number 14548 (July 28, 1920), 32-inch barrel, pistol grip, and banjo escutcheon submitted by Tom Breeden,
Earliest .410
Serial Number 92301 (May 16, 1926), Field Grade, 28-inch barrels submitted by Robert Merkel.
Earliest 20 Gauge
Serial Number 1104 (December 4, 1907), Field Grade submitted by Keith Swicegood.
Earliest 16 Gauge
Serial Number 2126 (April 25, 1896), No. 5E submitted by Stan Middleton.
Earliest No. 00 20 Gauge
Serial Number 1639 (November 10, 1909), submitted by Phil Carr.
Earliest No. 0 20 Gauge
Serial Number 1135 (December 18, 1907), submitted by Robert Merkel.
Earliest No. 2 20 Gauge
Serial Number 5365 (December 19, 1908), submitted by Jim Reid.
Earliest 16 Gauge No. A-1
Serial Number 3195 (April 10, 1899), submitted by Frank Finch.
Latest No. 00
Serial Number 215277 (December 26, 1912), 12 gauge submitted by Robert Hendricks.
Latest No. 0
Serial Number 214868 (June 17, 1912), 12 gauge submitted by John Liles.
Latest No. 1
Serial Number 215038 (August 21, 1912), 12 gauge with fluid steel barrels submitted by Terry Olson.
Latest No. 2
Serial Number 216962 (January 12, 1914), 12 gauge with Damascus steel barrels submitted by J. David Williamson.
Latest No. 3
Serial Number 214564 (March 8, 1912), 16 gauge submitted by Dick Miller
Latest Pigeon Grade
Serial Number 214915 (June 2, 1912), 12 gauge submitted by Bruce Bonney
Latest No. 4
Serial Number.
Latest No. A-1
Serial Number 7249 (February 7, 1902), 12 gauge submitted by Bruce Bonney.
Latest No. 5
Serial Number.
Latest No. A-2
Serial Number 219170 (July 19, 1916), submitted by Phil Carr.
Latest No. A-3
Serial Number.
Latest Field Grade
Serial Number FWS5516 (November 25, 1949), 12 gauge submitted by Framk Hosna.
Latest Ideal Grade
Serial Number 47656 (December 14, 1949), 16 gauge submitted by Dick Miller.
Latest Trap Grade
Serial Number 104894 (March 19, 1928), 12 gauge submitted by Richard Thompson.
Latest Skeet Special Grade
Serial Number.
Latest Premier Skeet Grade
Serial Number 54989 (February 24, 1950), 12 gauge submitted by Walt Pomroy.
Serial Number 54919 (April 28, 1950), 12 gauge submitted by Keith Swicegood.
Latest Specialty Grade
Serial Number.
Latest Eagle Grade
Serial Number 138374 (February 27, 1934), 12 gauge with swamp rib submitted by Skip Dunlap.
Latest Crown Grade
Serial Number.
Latest Field Grade (Marlin 1968-71)
Serial 59042, 12 gauge submitted by Frank Hosna.
Latest Specialty Grade SBT
Serial Number 192160 (August 5, 1941), pistol grip with rectangular escutecheon submitted by Tom Breeden.
Latest No. 00 20 Gauge with 32-Inch Barrels
Serial Number 6593 (December 12, 1912), submitted by Terry Olson.
Latest 10 Gauge Pigeon
Serial Number 318687 (June 12, 1907), submitted by Craig Larter.
Heaviest L.C Smith shotgun
Serial Number 91781 (1896), 12 pounds 14 ounces, 8 gauge No. 2 submitted by Jim Stubbendieck.
Lightest L.C Smith shotgun
Serial Number 31452 (September 9, 1920), 5 pounds 13 ounces, 20 gauge Specialty Grade submitted by Walt Pomroy.
Damascus 20 gauge
Serial Number 14788 (October 21, 1919), Field Grade submitted by Frank Finch.
Dissimilar Barrels
Serial Number 882 (June 1, 1893), No. A-1 12 gauge with a fluid steel and a Damascus barrel submitted by Frank Finch.
Swamp Rib
Serial Number 138374 (February 27, 1934), 20 gauge Eagle Grade submitted by Skip Dunlap.
Earliest Quality 2
Serial Number 16342, 10 gauge submitted by Rolf Henretty.
Earliest Quality 3
Serial Number 20302, 12 gauge submitted by Steve Omage.
Earliest Quality 5
Serial Number 19208, 12 gauge submitted by Skip Dunlap.
Latest Quality 2
Serial Number 23061, 10 gauge submitted by Steve Omage.
Latest Hammergun
Serial Number 26117, 12 gauge F submitted by Frank Hosna.
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