Re: L.C. Smith sxs
Posted by Tom Archer on August 14, 2021, 5:46 pm, in reply to "
L.C. Smith sxs"
The photos of your forearm confirms that the "E" stamp along side the grade stamp on this Grade 1 gun confirm it was originally shipped with auto-ejectors. The ejector mechanism seen here is known as the Type I auto-ejector system; and which system was problematic and later replaced by what it known as the Type II auto-ejector mechanism. This forearm is missing its wedge shaped ebony forend tip, which can be replaced. As noted previously, this is a very early example of an LC Smith auto-ejector gun, and the frame of this gun was likely from the inventory purchased by Hunter Arms when they purchased and moved the original L.C. Smith Gun Co. from Syracuse to Fulton, NY. Collectors call these guns "transition guns" because they were produced with combinations of features from both production eras. In the case of this gun, we see sculpted ridges on the bottom of the frame, a feature dropped very early on Fulton era guns (except for the A-1 Grade); and we also see records of a Smith gun "having been made into a different grade" during this same early period. As another poster has observed, this example has frame points atop the breech balls; a feature typically reserved for guns Grade 2 and higher, so this frame was most likely intended as the basis for a higher grade gun. This gun also features a bit more engraving than a typical Grade 1 gun. Examples of these early Smith guns with out-of-grade features are always interesting to collectors; so thanks for sharing, and again I suggest you order a research letter.
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