What Is This Spoon And It's Value

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Jandrews

Tabs, you have a PM.

JA

First step..get the current copies of..(cost about $80). Gives an order of value on the different models.

1. The Blue Book of Gun Values

2. The Standard Catalog of Firearms

I will spend literally hundreds of USD for a book or a set of books. It is invaluable research material, that can make or save you thousands of USD. Books even become collectable when they go out of print and will climb dramatically in value for their research value.

A good book that will fall into this catagory is the book on LC Smiths by Hochines. He has passed away and his son is not going to reprint.

Next ALWAYS BUY QUALITY BRANDS..Colt, S&W, Winchester, Browning etc...they have the best name recognition, resale and apprecaition potential. Stay away from Commeratives, customized guns or refinished guns (there are several exceptions on restored or refinsihed..one is Brit rifles and shotguns). Obviously everything is a function of price and if it is being given away well...

For example in the same auction that this LC Smith came from there was a Sprinfield 1903 made at the Rock island Arsenal in 1909 by SN, B date and Cartouch on the stock...the spoon was straight with no monkey biz nor arsenal rebuilding, it came from the same estate as the Elsie did. The Bayonet was offered in the same auction...it sold for $970 and the Bayonet for $190 to the same person. Like early 1903's in roughly the same condition have sold for $3120 in the past several years at Julias Auctions..early ones that are straight are far and few between..A GOOD DEAL for $970????

If I were not saving my powder for the Elsie I woulda stepped on that 1903 faster than Dipso can talk shyte...

Also in the past month a British Jacobs DBL Rifle circa 1860 was sold for $2600 at auction, I have seen two ads for them..one at $7500 and the other at $6750..good deal at 26? In the same auction a Wm Lawerence high grade percussion rifle in near new condition sold for $2600 also...I sold a Wm Lawerence Percussion rifle with Malcomb scope in near new condition for $9000...Good Deal at $26? Again I only had so much dinero, so I wound up with a RJ Howland Percussion TGT rifle for $1900. Those are mid 3's...2500 to 4000. I was trying to get the WM Lawerence Percussion rifle as well but decided not to chase, dropping out at 24...

[fred cook]

Actually, the earliest known Crown grade is dated 1914. They were made/sold until 1950. There was an accident at the factory in 1945 when a floor collapsed. The decision was made to produce guns out of previously made parts as long as possible. So, all of the "pieces" were made before the event in 1945, but continued to be sold as completed guns until the parts were exhausted in 1950. So, manufacture dates run from about 1913-14 thru 1945.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by fred cook

Here are a couple of better pictures of the Grade 3 and Grade 4 sideplates. The Grade 3 looks to me to be closer to the ones in Tabs pictures.


Grade 3


Grade 4

The Grade 4 U are showing is an early one where the oval was further back. Further I couldn't make heads nor tails of the engraving in the pictures furnished by the auctioneer of the side palte ovals. I based my findings on the clear pictures of the engraving on the top of the frame..especiallyon the frame around the barrle lug, the B lug, and on the lever. Also the bottom of the Frame picture, the engraving around the screw and blued lug. The engraving of the little birds in the trigger guard oval. All are distinctly different from Grade 3 to 4. This is grade 4.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by fred cook

Actually, the earliest known Crown grade is dated 1914. They were made/sold until 1950. There was an accident at the factory in 1945 when a floor collapsed. The decision was made to produce guns out of previously made parts as long as possible. So, all of the "pieces" were made before the event in 1945, but continued to be sold as completed guns until the parts were exhausted in 1950. So, manufacture dates run from about 1913-14 thru 1945.

I have Brophy's book too...the floor collapsed right around 1950..Marlin decided not to salvaged the operation..and discontinued the LC Smith line..

[tabs]

An Elsie Field 20 GA..wt ssp rib and a Fox Sterlighworth 20GA

[targa911S]

working on a field grade elsie in 16 FW as we type.

[Jandrews]

Originally Posted by tabs

First step..get the current copies of..(cost about $80). Gives an order of value on the different models.

1. The Blue Book of Gun Values

2. The Standard Catalog of Firearms

I will spend literally hundreds of USD for a book or a set of books. It is invaluable research material, that can make or save you thousands of USD. Books even become collectable when they go out of print and will climb dramatically in value for their research value.

A good book that will fall into this catagory is the book on LC Smiths by Hochines. He has passed away and his son is not going to reprint.

Next ALWAYS BUY QUALITY BRANDS..Colt, S&W, Winchester, Browning etc...they have the best name recognition, resale and apprecaition potential. Stay away from Commeratives, customized guns or refinished guns (there are several exceptions on restored or refinsihed..one is Brit rifles and shotguns). Obviously everything is a function of price and if it is being given away well...

For example in the same auction that this LC Smith came from there was a Sprinfield 1903 made at the Rock island Arsenal in 1909 by SN, B date and Cartouch on the stock...the spoon was straight with no monkey biz nor arsenal rebuilding, it came from the same estate as the Elsie did. The Bayonet was offered in the same auction...it sold for $970 and the Bayonet for $190 to the same person. Like early 1903's in roughly the same condition have sold for $3120 in the past several years at Julias Auctions..early ones that are straight are far and few between..A GOOD DEAL for $970????

If I were not saving my powder for the Elsie I woulda stepped on that 1903 faster than Dipso can talk shyte...

Also in the past month a British Jacobs DBL Rifle circa 1860 was sold for $2600 at auction, I have seen two ads for them..one at $7500 and the other at $6750..good deal at 26? In the same auction a Wm Lawerence high grade percussion rifle in near new condition sold for $2600 also...I sold a Wm Lawerence Percussion rifle with Malcomb scope in near new condition for $9000...Good Deal at $26? Again I only had so much dinero, so I wound up with a RJ Howland Percussion TGT rifle for $1900. Those are mid 3's...2500 to 4000. I was trying to get the WM Lawerence Percussion rifle as well but decided not to chase, dropping out at 24...

Thanks Tabs...I will start there.

JA

[tabs]

Originally Posted by targa911S

working on a field grade elsie in 16 FW as we type.

I have a Elsie Speciality wt English style stock in a 16...only 655 Speciality 16's were bilt and wt the str stock???

[targa911S]

This has an old fajen replacement stock that is way out of proportion to the rest of the gun. It's huge. I'll be using it for firewood. I'm hanging an english stock on it in AA fancy walnut. the rest of the gun is nice the wood just sucks. I'm waiting for the timer to go off now on the barrels that are being boiled and carded once again today. I'm at 8 rust/boil/card cycles right now.

[tabs]

Received the Elsie today...IT IS A GRADE 4E..as marked on the Frame. Has a couple of problems that can be fixed. A broken left barrel Firing Pin, and a piece of the lower barrels filler is loose. the hard pad is chrystalized and needs replacing, and the Barrels might have been refinshed allthugh they look to be original. The barrel bluing is shows some wear and is getting thin in places.

It weighs over 8 lbs, has the Hunter One Selective Trigger, Ivory Bead Front Sight, Gold band on Baarrels as well a the "S" on the Safety Bores are clean, with no dings, 30 inch Barrels. has a fair amount of Case left on the frame, very tight and solid shotspoon for 1906 mfg.

As stated on 455 Quality No 4's were made with 388 in 12 GA..from 1896 to 1912.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/L-C-Smith-4-E-12-GA.cfm?gun_id=100186160

Considering what I have in it and what the 4E's are worth there is plenty of margin to get er in tip top shape and still make bank (even at less than 1/2 the price of the one listed above)

[tabs]

[targa911S]

Nice score Tabs. i have a pin for you. I'll send you a set, have yer guy do em both while he's in there. Have him fix the buggered screw too. Looks like and honest gun/.

[targa911S]

It's been apart before. The screws are out of time. The slots should all point down the axis of the gun.