Posted by Tom Archer on May 15, 2012, 10:56 am, in reply to "Value 1912 Field LC Smith Hammer Gun?"
75.91.56.64
I won't place a value on the gun, but will note a few observations as follows. Based on the condition of the screw slots, this gun has suffered very little, if any, aftermarket tampering; a very good thing. But on the other hand, this gun has suffered badly from improper storage; and was perhaps left neglected in a zippered case in a humid environment? The result is that you now have areas of pitting on barrel surfaces, and a skim of rust on the frame and lock plates that have destroyed the original brilliant case colors. Something has also damaged original stock finishes, as those stocks are much darker than they were originally (may have received some type of after-market oil treatment?). This gun would certainly benefit from a careful and professional cleaning; and with the barrels, that streaking could be as minor as old lead deposits. If the gun were mine, I'd put a piece of 0000 steel wool on a mandrel; chuck the mandrel in a drill and, using a good bore solvent, scrub the heck out of those tubes. In my opinion, this gun would make a tremendous using/shooting gun; but there's not enough original finishes to make this gun a desirable collector piece.
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