Posted by David Williamson on April 6, 2017, 12:55 pm, in reply to "My first Elsie"
Jethro, 1888 would be a good year. The last recorded serial number I have for a hammerless L.C. Smith is 23,553 so far. I have not seen any guns made in the 24000 serial number range and 25,000 up were hammer gun L.C. Smiths.
On the for-end, June 1, 1880 (patent number 228,165). It refers to the "J" spring, simple convenient forend fastener.