Re: Newly acquired No. 2 Grade 12 gauge "Elsie" Archived Message
Posted by USMC Armorer on September 19, 2008, 1:45 pm, in reply to "Re: Newly acquired No. 2 Grade 12 gauge "Elsie"" |
Thank you Dr. Drew-I'll go back and check again-the gun weighs 6 lbs. 14 oz. on digital scales- I have just sent in my membership application form and the $40 fee to have a factory document drawn up and sent to me. Many years ago, while on a "delay en route" one week leave while in the USMC, went into a small gunshop in a Chicago area with a pal, and bought a 12 gauge Pigeon Grade L.C. Smith- straight hand grip, double triggers, solid black pad, 28" barrels, had the gold bar inset in to the barrel rib- shot many birds with it for about 5 years, but seemed to "blow up" quail and doves at close range. Now I have learned that the factory normally choked both barrels Full unless otherwise specified, and I traded it for a similarly stock GH Parker 20 gauge- to a gun dealer in Front Royal VA. I was in advanced armorer's training at Quantico then, we ordered the clay pigeons and shells for the Base skeet range from that dealer-when I went up there with my C.O., who had several fine L.C. Smith and A.H. Fox doubles, it was quite an experience. Now I have this nice pre-1913 No. 2 and as I don't have quail or doves as legal targets here in MI, I'll use the Smith for pheasants, possibly ducks with the special Hevi-Shot loads that Cabela's sells for usage in older doubles- I still use the Parker 20 for grouse and woodcock and pheasants on a preserve, all over pointing dogs. But for windblown mallards and South Dakota pheasants, the older Browning A-5 12 that has been my mainstay shotgun will stay home in favor of the Smith. I hope to get a chance to shoot it at a clays event sponsored by the L.C. Smith CA- Greg!!
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