Scarce Abercrombie & Fitch Retailed Hunter Arms Co./L. C. Smith .410 Bore Field Grade Double Barrel Shotgun with Letters and Documentation L. C. Smith was one of America's top manufacturers of shotguns in the years preceding World War II, and their guns have long been amongst the most sought after shotguns on the collector's market. According to page 177 of William Brophy's "L. C. Smith Shotguns", only 2,375 of these .410 bore Field Grade guns were completed. Many of these .410 bores would have been purchased for a young man as his first shotgun and saw years of hard use, making this exceptional example a true rarity. The included Cody Museum letter confirms the grade, featherweight configuration, gauge, rib, and barrel length when the gun was finished on April 26th, 1940, and shipped to Abercrombie & Fitch on August 28th, 1940. The letter from Griffin & Howe (holders of the A&F records) confirms the chokes, triggers, chambers, and measurements (the latter since modified) when the gun was sold to R. B. Lanier on October 1st, 1940. Copies of Census records and some other information pertaining to Lanier are included. Reginald Bishop Lanier was born in 1888 and went on to graduate from Harvard before entering the finance and banking world, joining Winslow, Lanier & Company in 1915. The included copy of his draft registration card shows him as retired in 1941/42 at the age of 53 and as living in Bernardsville, New Jersey. The gun is consecutively serial numbered with the previous lot and was built with blued Armor Steel barrels featuring dual brass bead sights on the matted flat solid rib, "L.C. SMITH Field GRADE" and "HUNTER ARMS CO. INC. M.F.R.S. FULTON. N.Y., U.S.A." marked on the right and left tubes respectively, and chambers measured 3 inches with extractors. The barrels are fitted to the casehardened sidelock action which is unadorned aside from "L. C. SMITH" marked on either lockplate. The gun features double triggers and an automatic tang mounted safety. The gun is fitted with a lightly figured and flat top multi-point checkered splinter forend and straight grip stock with a leather faced recoil pad. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .414/.415 inches; choke constriction .015/.029 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 1/16 inch drop at heel; 13 9/16 inch length of pull; weight 5 lbs. 11 oz.

Manufacturer: Hunter Arms Company

Model: Field

BBL: 26 inch solid rib

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 410

Finish: blue/casehardened

Serial NumberFW183432

Class: Curio & Relic Long Gun

  • Provenance: The Frank Brownell Collection
  • Condition: Exceptionally fine, retaining 97% plus original blue and casehardened finishes with some minor handling evidence and some scattered patches of spotting. The freshened wood is very fine with some minor scratches and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A great chance to own a lovely small bore American shotgun with a history!

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by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

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