Family Heirloom L.C. Smith ShotgunArchived Message
Posted by John Liles on November 5, 2006, 2:41 pm
Gentlemen, I've recently come into posession of an L.C.Smith 12 guage shotgun that was I believe originally purchased by my great grandfather. Information from your website leads me to believe that the gun was manufactured in 1912. The serial # is 214868 with the suffix OE on the barrels and forearm. The action is beautifuly tight and smooth, blueing is nearly 100% on the barrels, less a very small area of rust w/i about 4" of the barrel ends. There is a crack where the reciever meets the stock, as Ive read about in this forum, but the gun remains solid and stiff while loading or ejecting shells. There are two lines of text where the rib meets the receiver, that read Hunter Arms Co (first line) Fulton, New York.(second line). There are no markings on the barrels.The insides of the barrels clean to a mirror finish. It does have ejectors,the Hunter One Trigger,and the case colors are nearly gone on one side, and fairly well preserved on the other. The forearm has a spring loaded roller. The stock has a raised portion on the left side where it meets your cheek if you are a right handed shooter, and there is light scroll engraving along the perimeter of the sideplates and trigger guard, not fancy, but nice to look at. My guess is that it is a #1 grade because of the barrel markings, or lack thereof. After reading some of the postings on this forum, I'm concerned that I may not be using the right amunition while skeet shooting. I have been shooting 2 3/4 inch #71/2 shot 3 dram equivilent loads. Are these loads too hot for this gun? Can anyone tell me anything more specific about this particular gun? What does the OE suffix on the barrels and forearm mean? I've truly enjoyed reading the postings on the forum this afternoon, and any insight that you folks could provide would be very appreciated. Sincerely, John