The following information was taken from William S. Brophy’s L.C. Smith Shotguns (1977). Additions and corrections to the information are welcomed.
W.H. Baker Company
1877 W.H. Baker and Company started making the Baker Three-Barrel Gun in Lisle, NY.
1879 W.H. Baker forms a partnership with L.H. Smith and L.C. Smith and manufactures the Baker Three-Barrel Gun in Syracuse, NY.
1880 W.H. Baker and L.H. Smith leave the company and Lyman Cornelius Smith (1850-1910) takes over the company.
L.C. Smith, Maker of the Baker Gun
1881 An advertisement listed the product as “The Baker Guns, L.C. Smith Maker, Syracuse, N.Y.”
1884 Began manufacture of L.C. Smith double barrel hammer guns in qualities F ($55),
E ($70), D ($95), C ($125), B ($150), A ($200), and AA ($300).
1886 L.C. Smith hammerless guns were introduced in Qualities 2 ($80) through 7 ($450).
1888 Manufacture of the Baker Three-Barrel guns ceased. L.C. Smith sold the company to John Hunter, Sr., Fulton, NY and founded the L.C. Smith and Brothers Typewriter Company.
Hunter Arms Company
1888 John Hunter Sr. bought the L.C. Smith Gun Co. It was his intention to have a business in which his six sons could work together, and so the Hunter Arms Company was established.
1889 Hunter Arms Company completed a factory in Fulton, NY to build the L.C. Smith gun.
1892 Automatic ejectors were available. Qualities 1 through 5 and Grades Monogram, A1, A2, and A3 were offered.
1895 The Pigeon Gun ($125), No.1 Grade ($60), and No. 0 Grade ($42) were added.
1898 The No. 00 Grade was added.
1904 The Hunter One-Trigger was available.
1908 Featherweight guns were offered.
1913 Names, grades, and engraving patterns were changed to Field, Ideal, Trap, Specialty, Eagle, Crown, Monogram, Premier, and De Luxe.
1917 Ownership of the company changed to a group of Fulton citizens. A One-Barrel Trap gun and vent rib on the single barrel were introduced.
1920 The Hunter Arms Company was purchased by Gifford K., A.T., and H.K. Simonds of Fitchburg, MA.
1924 The Long-Range Wild Fowl gun was introduced.
1925 Vent Ribs were introduced as an option on double barrel guns.
1929 The Skeet Grade was offered.
L.C. Smith Gun Company
1945 The company was purchased by Marlin Firearms Company, North Haven, CT. The L.C. Smith Gun Company was organized as a subsidiary company to continue production of the L.C. Smith shotgun.
1949 A section of the first floor of the factory in Fulton collapsed causing nearly complete suspension of manufacturing.
1950 The factory was closed.
Marlin Firearms Company
1969 The Marlin Firearms Company began limited production of 12 gauge Field Grade shotguns.
1971 Production ceased after production of about 2,351 Field Grade and 188 De Luxe Grade shotguns.