Curtis invented the L.C. Smith "Curtis fore end fastener" and worked for the HAC from 1899 - 1917; as plant superintendent during the last seven years of his employment. After WWI, he worked at Winchester, Ithaca, Iver Johnson, and Marlin.
He returned to Fulton in 1940 and was the general manager of HAC until his death in 1941. He was also a prolific writer. Forty one of his articles were published from 1909 to 1940 and he authored "America's Double Hammerless Shotguns".
The 5 page article is a PDF and if you would send me an email at revdoc2@cox.net (or anyone else) I'll reply with the document.
The Smith gun used a top rib extension section, breech section, and barrel lump/hook section which were brazed together
(my apologies - I can't confirm who sent me this image. Please let me know.)
This is a radiograph showing the breech and barrel loop support. Click on the image for full size.
which was both silver soldered and affixed with a screw
Another radiograph with the loop support and the mid-barrel and forward spacers
Soldered spacers (my apologies again - I think this image was from Chris Helms)
The barrels were soldered at the muzzle, and the bottom and top ribs soldered.
Jack Rowe on soldering barrels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSUOeT2dBg0
A 65 part series on SXS barrels and sidelock shotgun fabrication. The "chopper lump" barrels are silver soldered rather than brazed. The youtubes start with
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqZwXb56s0A
THAT should keep us busy until the spring thaw!
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