Dogs and Doubles

Slim pickings this week. It looks like there are a few double barrel shotguns coming up on Saturday and Sunday at these auctions, including a few Lefevers and a Parker GH.

I don’t have any pics of the side-by-sides. Links to all the info I have is below.

Kenneth P. Leiby Auction Service in Richland, PA, has a couple of doubles, including a Lefever, an Ithaca, and a Parker GHE.

Trout Auctioneers, Inc, in Thurmont, MD, has some interesting stuff.  They list some shotguns, but the info on the guns in minimal. Their listing is just enough of a tease to make me curious.

These guys have a 20 Lefever: Chism Auction Company, New Albany, MS. Before you start breathing heavy, it’s an Ithaca gun.

Next Tuesday, these guys are auctioning off Lefever Nitro Specials in 16 gauge and 20 gauge: AZFirearms.com. It looks like it’s an online auction.

These guys auctually have a decent Parker VH and some nice L.C. Smiths side by sides, including a 20 gauge: House Auction, Co. The auction is online. Here’s the complete catalog.

Pre-1913 L.C. Smiths are some of the nicest double barrel shotguns ever made in America. As the only sidelock ever mass produced in North America, they have some of the elegance of a British gun, and a lot of the “practical” that I like about America firearms.

Early LC_Smith 2E

This L.C. Smith side-by-side is a perfect example. It’s an early No. 2 grade, probably made in 1898. It has Smith’s first style ejectors and a ton of original condition.

Overall, it looks like a nice gun.

Early LC Smith 2E

One thing I’ve learned about double barrel shotguns is that condition is king. When it comes to resale value original condition is what people want. So when it comes to collecting, it’s what you should focus on. Everything else is for suckers.

Here are two real nice Parkers with tons of original condition.

This first one is a minty 12 gauge VH on Gunbroker.com right now. Now’s that crisp.

Parker VH double barrel shotgun, all original

This next one is a real sweet 12g GH with damascus barrels. It looks like a nice gun – I love those damascus barrels.

Parker GH double barrel shotgun, all original

Cabela’s in Rogers, MN, just posted this 12 gauge Parker DH double barrel shotgun. It’s worth taking a look at for just $3900.

With a straight grip and 32″ barrels, this Parker a pretty rare double barrel. It looks pretty original, too. The buttstock may be refinished and that pad may not be original, though. Make sure you take a good look at it before you close the deal.

Parker DH 12g @ Cabelas

Lock from a mid-grade W & C Scott hammergun, circa 1885

Most people never really see the locks on double barrel shotguns. That’s too bad. The locks are one of the important parts of a sidelock shotgun, They’re also one most intricate and beautifully crafted, too.

These locks from a mid-grade and best-quality W. & C. Scott hammer gun. Both are from around 1885 and all original. The finish you see was put there by the maker.

Take a look at the lock from the mid-grade, W. & C. Scott double barrel shotgun. Even though it’s well made, this lock has a two-pin bridle. That’s not very good.

The lock was probably made by Scott, or by a maker in the trade who specialized in lower-grade locks. It is not marked with a maker’s name. If it was made by an outside firm, they were not interested in taking credit for it.

Compare it to this next lock. One look shows you the extra quality and labor that went into it. This one came off a W. & C. Scott Premier grade double barrel shotgun.

Lock from a Premier grade W. & C. Scott double barrel shotgun

See the extra pins on the bridle? This is a four-pin lock — the best there is. The Premier was Scott’s finest hammergun. This lock came from Stanton — one of the top lock makers in the business. Stanton perfected the rebounding lock in 1867.

Go here and here if you want to learn more about locks. There a lot of pics on those sites, along with some history on the evolution of gun locks. Interesting stuff.