Quality of Marlin made L.C . Smith shotguns

BoyWonder

I'm looking at getting an L.C. Smith to shoot and hunt with. Are the later Marlin made L.C. Smiths equal in quality and shootability if not collectability with the earlier Field Grade or OO grade guns? Like I said, I'm not particularly interested in collectability, I plan to enjoy the gun by shooting it. Thanks in advance...

Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master. -Demosthenes

nord

Thanks to A-Q-H and a quick e-mail, I saw this post.

A Marlin Smith... Marlin always made good guns and the Elcee is no exception.

Wood may not be quite as nice as Hunter Arms, checkering might be a bit more coarse, but you'll not be unhappy with the gun. Fact is, most can't tell the difference unless they see the serial number.

Buy it! Shoot it! Collect all the Hunter Arms Elcees you can... I need the company.

Nord

Nighthawk

The gun dont have alot of collectors value but I have seen a few around,and they are good shooters.I wouldnt mind having one myself.


Good Luck.

Rugster

Lance

Marlin made the L.C. Smith two times. If you refer to the last version -- the double-trigger field grade with aluminum top ventilated rib, I gave one NIB to my 3-yr-old nephew many years ago.

Quality of materials = good
Fit & finish = good
shape & configuaration = American style, that is, not nearly as graceful and quick as a Darne "V" model or a first-quality British side-by-side.

Major parts, and some of the minor ones are investment cast 8620. This is neither good nor bad. It is different.

This was not a shotgun I would have preferred to use, but mechanically it was fine.

BoyWonder

Thanks for the help. I think I'll be hunting with this gun in the fall...

Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master. -Demosthenes

laxcoach

I agree with nord, particularly the "first" Marlins. These guns were made with Hunter Arms tooling to the same specs as the Hunter guns, and the only way to tell them apart is the high rib on the Marlins, lack of Hunter arms on the left barrel, (and of course, serial number). I recently acquired a beautiful 16 Marlin made in 1949, and can see no difference in workmanship from the earlier guns. As to the "later" Marlins, they just don't have the appeal to me as the earlier guns-- jmho.