Re: 2 barrel multi gauge L C Smith guns Archived Message
Posted by Tom Archer on January 3, 2015, 3:46 pm, in reply to "Re: 2 barrel multi gauge L C Smith guns"
JD As I've stated, I don't know of any original L.C. Smith two gauge sets (still not saying one doesn't exist, only that we have no surviving record of such a gun of any two-gauge combination); but have seen lots of after-market stuff such as 20-bores with an extra set of 20 gauge barrels mono-blocked and chambered in 28 gauge, 410 bores with added sets of barrels chambered in pistol calibers, etc. I was speaking with Tom Martin earlier today about this gun; and although we're now too old to remember all details, after WWII the European job market was really bad and fine quality custom work done by highly skilled craftsmen could be had for very reasonable costs (as in cheap!). One of the services that could be had during those days and into at least the 50's was custom shotgun barrel work. Tom and I believe a company in Chicago may have advertised and handled this service; but one could send a double gun to them with Damascus, ruined, and missing barrels. The gun would then be shipped to an outfit we believe in Italy; and a new set of barrels then made for, and fitted to the subject gun. Tom and I recall that these replacement barrels may have been marked "Atlas" in an un-matted panel on the top rib. I've never seen a set of these barrels with rib matting matching the rib matting pattern used by the original gun maker. If this Smith gun does indeed have these after-market barrels, this would be the first Smith gun I've seen re-barreled in that fashion; but I've seen a number of Parker guns with such barrels. I obviously have no way of knowing for sure, but suspect that this gun was re-barreled to 20-bore by design and not on special request. I say that because, with its original 26" barrels, this gun was built as a "lightweight" model with original 2 1/2" or 2 9/16" chambers. By the time this gun was re-barreled the standard 16 gauge shell length was 2 2/4", and operating pressures had been significantly raised in order to make a spring operated semi-auto action function properly. So I suspect this gun was re-barreled to 20-bore solely to insure it would be safe to shoot with modern ammo. Finally, I'll leave the picture posting to you as 1) you really need better pics to properly illustrate gun features; and 2) I'm not smart enough to understand the picture posting process. Best, Tom
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