Jim, in the above statement from Houchins' book
The Legend Lives stated that serial numbers 22501 to 29999 were finished from 1892 to 1894. In his book page 488 shows a hang tag from Syracuse showing serial number 22631 from 1887.
This is just one of the inconsistences.
Also from my records serial number 26397 hammer gun from 1889 does have L.C. Smith Maker Syracuse N.Y. on right barrel. Like I stated before I have others with higher serial numbers that do not have a makers name on the barrel and are Transition hammer guns.