Re: L.C. Smith Heavy 10 Ga Hammerless Quality 4 Archived Message
Posted by David Williamson on January 31, 2014, 1:21 pm, in reply to "Re: L.C. Smith Heavy 10 Ga Hammerless Quality 4"
Dean, that is a very early 1886 gun made in August. The reason I state this is because the hammerless guns started in August of 1886 at serial number 16000. The engraving is of the early type as later it became nicer, and usually had a few setters on the locks. Beautiful sculptured breech balls. In a catalog of 1888 there is no mention of 10 gauge or 12 gauge guns having 28" barrels, but like most things L.C. Smith, never say never. Barrels are listed as Very Fine Damascus Steel. As for the stock, very hard to tell. It is quite possible that if you lift and swing the trigger guard, hopefully the serial will be stamped in the inlet area. The shape of it is correct, and the ckecking should be at least 26 lines to the inch. The correct butt plate would be a retriever watching a duck fall, some with the words L.C. Smith Trap Grade and some with L.C. Smith Syracuse. The diamond in the for-end, I have seen more without it, and in some I have seen it with ivory border around the ebony. An expensive gun for back then, $150.00.
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