Was at the Denver Gun Show today and came across an interesting Elsie. It’s a F quality Syracuse hammer gun, with all parts showing the same serial number of 27868 (This number is for you, David W, for your Syracuse list). But there were strange things about it, based on my limited experience.

1). The barrels had no wording on top. Ones I have seen were imprinted with “LC Smith Maker” and “Syracuse, NY”? These had nothing?
2). Normally an F quality Syracuse gun would be fitted with stub twist barrels, but this gun appears to have the “‘Choice three rod herring bone pattern” normally reserved for the Syracuse Quality 7? This is based on Dr. Drew’s website at

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1UYzpTlAj4tQxjifoxxwfXeS7Sc477_J4h-FCIsm9rAA

While examining the gun I notice another thing that may, perhaps explain this. The butt plate states that it is a “Trap Gun”. Is it possible that a F grade would have top of the line Damascus barrels if also designated as a trap gun?

Also, Can David W give me an idea of when this gun was most likely built? I am assuming 1885.

Thanks,
- Doug