Check Out L.L. Bean’s 100th Guns

(LL Bean photo)

The 100th Anniversary of L.L. Bean is next year, and you better believe this iconic American outdoor company is going to do a bunch to celebrate. (Unfortunately, our idea of free Setters for everyone wasn’t embraced by Mr. Bean….)

One thing they’re doing is producing a variety of 100th Anniversary heritage products, including a canoe, knife, duck call, pack basket, decoy set a bamboo fly rod, a 100th Anniversary Maine Hunting Shoe and more. But the marquee product will be a limited number of L.L.Bean 100th Anniversary Commemorative Shotguns.

Here’s what Bean says about the guns:

To develop these very special guns, we partnered with Merkel and worked very closely with them on the overall design and development…. We will be offering only twenty 20ga shotguns and five four-gun sets, which include a 16ga, 20 ga, 28ga and a .410.

The guns will be available for purchase as of midnight, January 1, 2012 and will only be available for purchase at the L.L.Bean Hunting & Fishing Store in Freeport, ME (877-755-2326).

Some more deets – even if you’re not this well-heeled, it’s still a blast to check these out:

Single Shotguns
> Merkel Model 147SL 20ga
> “Custom Luxury Grade Execution”
> Limited to twenty guns total
> $15,000 each

Here's the 20ga (LL Bean photo).

Four-Gun Sets
> Merkel Model 1620SL 16ga
> Merkel Model 147SL 20ga
> Merkel Model 280SL 28ga
> Merkel Model 360SL .410
> “Custom Luxury Grade Execution”
> Limited to five, four gun sets
> $75,000 per set

Features and Benefits
> Greener cross bolt with double under-barrel locking lugs
> Custom hand engraved game scenes on hand detachable silver-grayed sidelocks
> Holland & Holland style automotive ejectors
> Double triggers
> Luxury Turkish Walnut with gold stock medallion
> English-style stock with custom “Scottish” skip-line checkering

In the case.... (LL Bean photo)

Specifications
> Action: Holland & Holland-style hand-detachable sidelocks
> Locking Mechanism: Greener cross-bolt with double locking lugs
> Trigger: Double
> Safety: Automatic, tang mounted safety
> Case Ejection: Holland and Holland style automatic ejectors

Gauge/ Chambers/Chokes
> 16ga: 2 3/4 inch chambers – Improved/Modified
> 20ga: 3 inch chambers – Improved/Modified
> 28ga: 2 3/4 inch chambers – Improved/Modified
> .410: 3 inch chambers – Modified/Full

Barrel/Length
> 28 inch / 710mm, cold rust blued barrels, cold hammer forged steel, solid sighting rib

Stock
> English, splinter forearm, oil finished, select luxury grade Turkish walnut

Receiver Finish
> Silver grayed receiver

Weight (approx) in Pounds
> 16ga: 6.4
> 20ga: 6.4
> 28ga: 5.5
> .410: 5.7

Stock Dimensions
> Length of Pull: 14 3/8 inches
> Drop at Comb: 1 ½ inches
> Drop at Heel: 2 9/16 inches
> Cast Off: ¼ inch

Engraving

The engraving theme for these custom, limited edition shotguns is a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of America’s premier outfitter, L.L.Bean.

The bottom of the shotgun receiver features a custom gold-inlayed hand engraving of the Maine Hunting Shoe with a gold inscription of the company’s year of inception, 1912, and the company’s 100th year anniversary, 2012. The Maine Hunting Shoe was L.L.Bean’s first product offering and is a testament and symbol of the company’s product innovation, its deep dedication to the traditional outdoor sports, as well as a commitment to total customer service and satisfaction.

This has to be the first shotgun with an engraving of a shoe/boot – we like it! (LL Bean photo)

The left side of the receiver features custom deep relief hand engravings of a German shorthair and Ruffed Grouse, and the right side features an American Woodcock in a lush forest setting typical of Maine and New England.

The silver nitrate, forearm latch, trigger guard, top lever and receiver tang are garnished with fine arabesque scrolls. The chamber end of the cold rust blued barrels feature rich and intricate hand engraved arabesque scrolls. The base of the shotgun’s top lever inscribed with the letters “LL” in gold.

Each individual L.L.Bean 100th Anniversary Commemorative Shotgun is engraved with a specially designated gold inlayed number identifying its exclusive place in the production of this rare and limited edition.

And?

How ’bout them apples? Any takers?

A collector’s piece for sure, but we’re pretty sure the company’s founder would want you to use the gun for its intended purpose. So if you buy one, bear that in mind….

Tags: Featured

Category: LL Bean, Shotguns