Lot 1413

One-of-a-Kind Hunter Arms/L. C. Smith "P4" Grade Shotgun

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One-of-a-Kind Hunter Arms/L. C. Smith "P4" Grade Shotgun

Estimate: $200,000 - $325,000

Starting Bid: $180,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Incredible, One-of-a-Kind Factory Relief Chiseled Game Scene Master Engraved Hunter Arms/L. C. Smith "P4" Grade Double Barrel Shotgun with Letter This is an incredibly rare opportunity to own a truly one-of-a-kind L. C. Smith double that is certainly one of, if not the finest the company ever built! This gun would stand out as a centerpiece in any collection of fine sporting arms, with the distinction of being a genuine one-of-one from a time long past, never again to be recreated. According to the included L. C. Smith Collectors Association research letter by James Stubbendieck, this gun was completed on July 5th, 1906, with the features that it currently shows, including the outstanding embellishment believed to have been carried out by Master Engraver Albert E. Kraus, who was the head of the engraving department at the time and the firm's most skilled engraver. The letter further states that the gun is listed in Ledger 17 as a “P4” Grade (scanned on the back of the letter), and is the only gun listed in this manner across all of the Hunter/L. C. Smith ledgers. The highest grade guns made by Hunter/L. C. Smith were the A3 (pre-1913) and De Luxe (post-1913), though there was an A4 designed by Kraus, but it appears none were ever actually made, likely due to price, which is believed to have been around $790, a massive sum of money in 1906. The meaning of the “P” is unclear, but Stubbendieck, and this writer, believe that it very likely stands for “Presentation”, but to whom or for what is unfortunately lost to time. The "4", however, clearly represents a level of embellishment above and beyond any of the grades built by the company, and quite possibly in line with Kraus' mysterious A4 Grade. The only other known L. C. Smith with this style of engraving is referred to as the “Sousa Grade", as it was made for famed Marine Corps band director and Hall of Fame trapshooter John Philip Sousa, who was known to have a number of special high grade American shotguns in his collection. This gun pre-dates the Sousa Grade by some two years, meaning it is possible, likely even, that this gun was the inspiration for Sousa's famous L. C. Smith! This gun was built with blued steel barrels featuring dual white bead sights on the matted concave game rib which is engraved with a 2 1/2 inch flourish of Germanic scrollwork cut in relief and continuing onto the barrel extension. The tubes are marked "SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL" and "HUNTER ARMS Co. MAKERS FULTON, N.Y." on the right and left respectively, relief Germanic scroll at either muzzle, more relief scroll engraving at either breech, jeweled flats with hand cut serial number, trade marks stamps ahead of the flats, and chambers measured 2 3/4 inches with ejectors. The barrels are fitted to the brushed bright finished sidelock action which displays phenomenal near full coverage deep relief chiseled Germanic scroll engraving encompassing "L. C. SMITH" incorporated into a scroll on either lockplate as well as a duo of exceptional relief game scenes, one on either plate. The scenes show a pair of setters pointing near a dead tree and stones in a field on the left lockplate and a pair of pointing pointers in an upland scene on the right, with both scenes showing top-shelf fine detail. The engraving then flows off of the action onto the toplever, the trigger guard, and both tangs, the bottom of which shows "HUNTER ONE TRIGGER" marking with gold inlaid barrel indicators and the serial number also cut in relief. The gun features hand cut patent markings and serial number on the watertable, bushed firing pins, the aforementioned Hunter One Trigger with checkered face, and a tang mounted manual safety with gold inlaid "S" indicator. The gun is fitted with a stunning highly figured splinter forend and round semi-pistol grip stock which feature intricate fancy checkering, a horn forend tip inlay (letter refers to it as ebony), matching engraved brushed bright forend iron and rotary release, a horn grip cap with "HRW/III" inscribed in a gold inlay, and a red silver's type rubber recoil pad. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .729/.728 inches; choke constriction .030/.032 inches; minimum wall thickness .033/.034 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 3/16 inch drop at heel; 13 1/2 inch length of pull; weight 7 lbs. 12 oz.

Manufacturer: Hunter Arms Company

Model: Double Barrel

BBL: 30 inch solid rib

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 12

Finish: blue/brushed bright

Serial Number206165

Class: Curio & Relic Long Gun

  • Condition: Very fine overall, retaining 90% of their original blue finish on the barrels with some wear/loss on some of the high areas, attractive brushed bright finish on the action with some old spotting and dried grease, some oxidation mainly toward the muzzles, and some rubs and scratches. The wood shows a few dings and scratches, a small crack at the rear of each lockplate, period replaced recoil pad, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Do not let this possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a stunning one-of-a-kind L. C. Smith double pass you by!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000