Ahh, the mysteries of "Transition" period guns.





The top gun is my 1891 Quality 1 gun, the bottom is the 1890 Quality 2 we've been discussing here. Only one year later and these Fulton-produced guns look very different (at least to my eyes). The action base is noticeably wider on the Quality 1 gun, with the "convex ribs" on the bottom being much-diminished. The Syracuse "square" barrel lug of 1890 is now the "rounded front" version of 1891 (and that all Fulton-made Smith guns had, going forward from this date) and...with the breech balls being very-much angled indeed (as Mr. Williamson had noted here earlier). Even the trigger guard sits more-rearward on this more "Fulton-like" action (you can't see the screw in front of the trigger guard on the 1890 Quality 2 gun, I'm not sure it even has one). Overall, these two "actions" look very different to me. The "geometry" is certainly quite different between these two guns. In my humble opinion, one is more "Syracuse" and the other is much more "Fulton".

The forend wood is quite different as well (with no decorative "escutcheon" on the 1891 gun). The 1890 gun's forend is much-longer than the Number 1 gun's (not sure about wider). Both have the "bell" shaped ebony insert that Mr. Williamson described so aptly here earlier as well. Sadly, the 1891 gun's ebony was reshaped improperly when it was repaired 2-years ago now (it was flattened instead if rounded). We're all learning, right?

The dimensions and weight of both guns is nearly identical (7lbs13), as are their chokes (everything is modified). The 1891 gun has "Laminated Steel" barrels and the Quality 2 gun has "Good Damascus" (which closely resembles "Chain-Damascus" to me now that they've been cleaned up a little).

Mr. Williamson also mentioned that 3-different frame sizes were available in Syracuse(?). I'd love to know what difference that would have made on the total weight of these two guns (I'm guessing both are the "bigger" size, at nearly 8-lbs each?)