The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
[ The L.C. Smith Collectors Association ]

Grade 0

Posted by Andrew Stockert on August 3, 2018, 7:07 pm
Edited by board administrator August 5, 2018, 8:34 am

Suddenly I've been thrust into the world of LC Smith shotguns.I have little experience with these guns and now I've come across a gem. I'm hoping for a little direction where to go with it. This gun, ser#60643 is in fantastic working condition. Tight and other than patina and dust and a little wear the metal is all present and in great condition. Where should I go with this gun? (What would you do). The gun was a shooter
The wear is consistent in the wood and metal. The stock could use repair but I feel it could still withstand use. I have everything for a complete restoration except making a new stock. I can fit and finish but not manufacture one. I can color, blue etc. everything but nitride. Should I repair the stock and clean the gun leaving all of the character in it, or go full blown restore? Never saw one before and I kind of like it. I'm not a collector. I use the few guns I have but this gun is sticking to me.

Re: Grade 0

Posted by Drew Hause on August 4, 2018, 11:33 am, in reply to "Grade 0 "

Welcome Andrew. Please check the FAQ section on the Home Page for thoughts regarding refurbishing/restoration/clean up.

That SN could be a 16g manufactured in 1898, and as such would have 2 9/16" chambers, and likely Damascus barrels. You can confirm the DOM under "Shotguns" on the Home Page.
If cracks are present, the head of the stock no doubt looks much worse and should be repaired prior to use.
Unfortunately, the market for well used lower grade vintage doubles is not good, so a full restoration would cost far more than the value of the gun.

Please have the gun evaluated (esp. the barrels) by a double gun specialist, then enjoy it with the appropriate ammo; also covered in the FAQs.

1902 Sears catalog

Re: Grade 0

Posted by Andrew on August 4, 2018, 3:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Grade 0 "

Thank you for your response. My tools are locked up in the shop for a week or so to remove the stock. I created a photobucket but it won't let me in to load pictures. So far, the bores and chambers are correct. There is no evidence of modifications. The gun is nice and tight and everything functioning. I've dated the sn to 1899 and the Damascus is present. No rust. Just a pretty patina. The color is gone from the action and the crack is along the spine about 3- inches behind the action. Everything is solid, but once the shop is open I'll borescop and measure the barrels, but so far, I'm confident that this is a fully functioning Smith gun. And believe me; What I spend for stock repair will be worth it. I paid VERY LITTLE for the gun. I'm hoping to get it all done for the spring event at Deep River, here in NC.

Re: Grade 0

Posted by Mark Skipper on August 6, 2018, 1:33 pm, in reply to "Grade 0 "

Mr. Hause is correct in his statement of the market not being good for vintage lower grade doubles,but this also applies to higher grade doubles as well.It is in my opinion that gunshops and venders at gunshows are trying to make a killing instead of a profit and it seems to be useless to try and deal with the vast majority of them.The reputable people who can work on or repair these guns are getting few and far between and are worth what they charge if you want to keep and shoot the gun.That is why you see the same guns for years on the internet websites.

Re: Grade 0

Posted by Andrew on August 8, 2018, 7:51 am, in reply to "Re: Grade 0 "
Edited by board administrator August 8, 2018, 12:34 pm

I have the means to restore this gun and the more I look at it I've decided to keep it. The stock needs minor repair otherwise it's in fabulous condition. My hopes are to have it completed in time to bring it to the deep river event in the spring. I agree that sellers are taking advantage of these and other guns but I've found a person who deals in them and is very reasonable. I paid very little for my gun.

Re: Grade 0

Posted by mark yeakel on August 8, 2018, 2:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Grade 0 "

From the sound of it, I wouldn't do anything with the metal. Most people shoot un-"restored" pieces in these shoots. If the bores look good, you're probably OK for use with RST loads (retailers in PA). It sounds like you want to work on it yourself. The key there is, the less you do the better. If you're not sure about that the bores or you have the means to measure barrel wall thickness, you should start there and make sure the barrels haven't been honed to less than minimum thickness. I have some Damascus barrels on an O grade from that time period and they are about .039 @ 9" ahead of the breech. If you're handy with epoxy you might try the stock repair; that sounds like an odd crack you've got there; photos would help. If you do repair the crack and/or the wood finish is mostly gone, just remove what's left of the old finish and do nothing else but a linseed oil finish with 320 grit paper. Your stocks are English walnut and will look superb. LC Smith actions/buttstocks are difficult to disassemble if you've never done it before, so I usually opt for only doing what's necessary for it to function properly. If you do take it down soak the buttstock in acetone for about a week before you refinish or make the epoxy repair.

Re: Grade 0

Posted by mark yeakel on August 10, 2018, 12:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Grade 0 "

The wall thickness of my set is .039 at midpoint which is 13" from the breech. You also want at least .100 just forward of the forcing cone.

Re: Grade 0

Posted by Andrew on August 17, 2018, 6:57 am, in reply to "Re: Grade 0 "

Thank you for your very good advice. I got the locks off to look at the wood underneath. It's solid. Fairly clean aside from the crack and chips
I believe that this gun was loved by someone. Used, but loved. I wonder about the history behind it and why/how it came to the market. Beautiful patina in the wood from use but not drowned in oil. I can still see some of the color in the locks. Measured the chambers and bored and they are correct.
It's a tough choice for me for which direction to go, but I've decided to keep it. I don't hunt or shoot trap/clays but hopefully I can have this ready for the deep river event.

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