Dear Jim. I am getting two L.C. Smith related items ready, and with your kind permission, may I send both to you, and have you forward the fotos to Mr. Andy Anderson for his Grade 2 engraving disertation pending being published in the quarterly newsletter. Thank you in advance.
I will send you the $40 for the research on my 1894 Grade 2E 12- another member of the LCSCA, a Mr. David W. has 'laid the ground work' for me on this, very much appreciated. It was made with Damascus barrels and then, post 1919 I believe, sent back to Fulton for the 32" NP barrels with the then available raised ventilated rib.
I have taken 14 fotos of this Smith on my basement den-the 'gun cleaning bench' area- and also 13 of the other pre-1913 Smith, the Grade 2 12 gauge you recently researched for me mfg. in Fulton in 1907. I hope they will be "post-able" on this site for the benefit of the other possibly interested members.
I took the older Smith out this AM for waterfowl-with the special Hevi-Shot loads made for vintage doubles with proofed barrels, and shot a goose and a mallard- each a one shot kill-never dirtied the left barrel.
I also have an older (1949 era) Model 21 Duck with 32 inch barrels choked Imp. Mod. and Full (if it is permissible to mention another make of side-by-side gun here) and like this Smith, has 3" chambers and ejectors. It is a good solid "tool" but lacks the graceful lines and balance both by pre-1913 Smiths have. The $25 annual membership fee on this LCSCA site is the best $25 I have spent in a long month of Sundays, ditto the $40 research fee.