New L.C. Smith 28 Guage Double Gun

[Ryman Gun Dog]

Gentlemen & Ladies,

Having grown up in a Grouse hunting family that collects L.C. Smith double guns, I always wanted a 28 Guage Elsie. As most people know there were only a couple
originals ever made. Recently the Marlin Gun Company, owner of the original Hunter Arms, L.C. Smith Gun Company, contracted an old Spanish Gun Maker, Zabala Hermenous to make the 28 Guage, L.C. Smith double gun. At 1st many had their doubts about how the weapon was going to be made. However Marlin provided the original 28 Guage engineering prints and contracted for high grade ordance metals and original French Walnut Wood. The Engraving was to be the new modern Spanish,
to keep the cost where Marlin required. In 2007 the new L.C. Smith 28 Guage gun went into production, a few guns were produced and shipped to the USA along with the .410 L.C. Smith Zabala was producing at the time. The Spanish Government stepped in and imposed a new export Tax on these weapons and the Marlin Company
discontinued the contract. Recently I was very fortunate and was able to purchase, one of the very few new 28 Guage L.C. Smith double guns, to add to my collection.
When the gun arrives I will post more and better pictures.
RGD/Dave

Our new L.C. Smith 28 Guage Double Gun
26" Chrome lined BBLs, French Walnut POW Butt Stock with Fleur-De-Lis Checkering, Semi-Beavertail Fore-Stock, Side Lock Engraving, with Pheasant & Grouse on oppsite
Side Lock Plates and Woodcock on underside of Breech, in Gold, with light scroll engraving surrounding each bird, Brass Sight Bead and Gold SST.


Click for more Pictures
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http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabe ... DCWHscfO1M

http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabe ... cnkRPCPxWF

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http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabe ... OQgLZUehUJ

[Mountaineer]

Grouse beware.
Looks like it will go bang while delivering a good feeling whenever one casts an eye over it on a color-drained November day...especially for the price.

I see it is a single trigger...is the trigger the original Lard design?
If not does this spanish LC differ in many other ways from an original LC...other than choke tubes I would guess?
Smithophiles have long wanted a 28 gauge...hope it fullfills those desires in more than name.

[Ryman Gun Dog]

Mountaineer,
Zabala got an open hand engineeringly with most of the contract to keep the price where Marlin wanted it. This gun is not represented as a reproduction by Marlin. The modern Elsie 28 guage is quite a bit like the original, from what I understand the SST is engineered like the original and the Butt stock is High Grade French Walnut Wood with Fluer-De-Lis Checkering, however the Engraving is modern Spanish design, to keep the cost down, the incredible Brown Rotary Bolt was replaced with the Purdey type locking system, the modern metals are all high grade ordance with Chrome lined BBLs, the gun has beautiful side lock plates, but is engineeringly a Semi-box lock. The modern Case Coloring is simply beautiful.
Zabala did a great job keeping Marlin in the price range it demanded for the modern 28 Gauge Elsie, however I would have much preferred if Marlin would have contracted Uggie, the other Spanish Master Gun makers, to build the 28 Guage Elsie with Brown Rotary Bolt and real SL. I do beleive they could have handled the 28 Elsie job very well.
Uggie makes a Grade IV & V, 28 Guage with real SL engineering already, however it would have placed the new modern L.C. Smith in a price range Marlin would not accept.
I do feel lucky that I am even able to purchase the modern Elsie 28 Gauge double gun, and believe Zabala did a very good job with the monetary restriction Marlin placed on them.
The gun will be passed down with the rest of our original L.C Smith gun collection, and be a welcome addition.
Smith Collectors like myself will purchase this 28 Zabala Elsie and understand how lucky we were to have it made, and few 28's were actually made, we will also purchase the 28 Spanish Uggie version, if and when it is made.
RGD/Dave

[OhioVizsla]

Dave,
Look's great, do you need me to break it in for you this fall?
John

[Ryman Gun Dog]

John,
My father taught me never to let another man break in my guns or girl friends.
RGD/Dave