The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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    Re: L C Smith made 1911 Archived Message

    Posted by C Helms on November 29, 2014, 12:58 pm, in reply to " L C Smith made 1911"

    I agree w/Bill that shellac was most likely used on lower grade guns based on how original remaining finish in hidden areas reacts to alcohol.

    In addition, there is an old 4 or 5 part utube video series that has an ex Hunter Arms employee, Bob Whelpy, along w/Rich Beyer, talking about a large jar w/shellac, BLO, and another ingredient in the factory. This mixture was rubbed on low grade guns for speed in production. Here is part 1 of the series (I believe the discussion on finishes is on part 4):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhW0j0CQVvg

    At what point in the grade lineup was oil used over shellac? I haven't messed w/enough graded guns to know, but suspect OO's, O's, Field Grades, and Ideals were finished in shellac.

    Anybody know where the oil/shellac cutoff was on higher grades?

    Here's a couple I did w/hand mixed garnet shellac:





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