Seriously considering buying my first Smith and don't want to be takenArchived Message
Posted by Mark M on October 14, 2006, 8:50 am
I was checking out the some of the local gun shops and kind of had my mind set on a sterlingworth but came upon a sweet L.C. Smith. I've never owned a Smith so I don't really know what to look for in a used gun. It's a 2E 12 gauge gun with 28 to 32" barrels, the dealer didn't know and was vague on the history of the gun. The serial number is 203669. It has a case colored reciver and I would estimate that 90% of the case colors remain or better. The gun has a game picture in circular engraving on the side that is well defined. I've been researching as much as I can on the internet and have seen some similar guns where the shallow engraving is almost worn off. This one is very well defined. The action is super tight and the bores and rib appear to be perfect. The forearm was very hard to take off, it has a roller that moves forward and then you just take it off right? Based on my internet searching I've found some discrepencies that it could have been made in either 1943 or 1944 but either way it is an late hunter arms production gun. It has a pachmier recoil pad that is somewhat soft. This makes me believe that the stock may have been cut and a pad added. Also it has an english straight stock, I was under the impression that smiths were all pistol grips but I'm not sure. The gun fits me really well. My questions are basically what chamber should this gun have? 2 3/4" or shorter? did smiths ever have english straight stocks from the factory? And lastly what kind of price is fair for this gun? The dealer has it listed at $1900.00 I've found 2 guns listed from auctions that only noted the condition as good. The gun sold for 1521.00 and 1600.00 but I have no idea of year and SN etc on the others. I've also found an older model 2 (extractor gun) at ivory beads gunshop that is listed for $2200 which was an older gun in worse condition. The bottom screw has also been partially stripped. This makes me wonder what kind of work was done on the gun and the tard that did the work must have used the wrong tools for the job (or the previous owner used the wrong tools to clean it internally). The wood looks good except that it has a different darker rough finish on both sides of the trigger guard which I expect is normal for a factory production gun, kind of like it wasn't sanded that area on the bottom of the action. The stock has a few dents and some blueing is worn off of the trigger guard part that extends to the wrist of the stock. I asked the dealer if the price is negotiable but his reply was ,"not much, I can get that much on the internet for it." I feel like he doesn't know much about the gun just trying to make a profit from it. What do you experts think?