Greetings Gentlemen, bill, Frank, Dick, revdocdrew, thank you very much for your comments. I am anxious to get started on the finish. The very first shotgun I ever handled was my fathers' L.C. Smith. Thanks to the information on this website I discovered that it was built in 1928. My father traded a Model 12 Winchester 12 ga. for the gun just before the onset of WWII. I think he made a pretty good trade. The gun has many miles on the clock, with all of the scratches and dings that give an old workhorse it's character. My father taught me how to take care of the action. Never letting it slam closed. A lesson I have never forgotten. When I handle that gun I can't help but wish I could have seen him with it in the field. He passed on on 12-7 2001. Those moments make me hesitate to take the gun out any more. The 48' Elsie will be it's replacement. Thank you for letting me pass that along. Rodger