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The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by Travis Smith on May 18, 2019, 8:42 am

I have an OO 12 ga serial number 43231 with Rubens Royal(sp) twist steel barrel. I think the gun was manufactured in 1897.

It is a well used but well taken care of gun. tight as a drum with lever still left of center and as hard as I try I cannot find any barrel pits. I just got around to fully measuring the barrel interior with my Stan Baker gauge.The gauge is very repeatable and I have not noticed any significant margins of error.

After measuring the 30" barrel set here is what I get.

Right Barrel
.722 past forcing cone. No variation in gauge
At muzzle no constriction, no choke taper that is none .000

Left Barrel
.720 past forcing cone. No variation in gauge
At muzzle -.029 constriction, with about 4 1/2" of choke taper

Other than the serial number I can find no other markings on the barrel.

Cyl on the right and IM on the left? Seems pretty odd to me. particularly for that era? I guess the birds they were shooting were close at flush and straight out greased lightning.

What are your thoughts.

Re: Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by Drew Hause on May 18, 2019, 9:14 am, in reply to "Odd barrel dimensions???"

Travis: this would be a F grade hammer gun, not 00 hammerless?

The Belgian "rough forged tubes" were bored below gauge for finishing and cutting the choke. I have not measure a .720" bore on a 12g previously however.

The combination of Cylinder and "Choke Bore" was common at the turn-of-the-century. My 1906 00 is choked .007 right and .030 left and I had a 1908 Parker .008 right and .040 left.

Re: Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on May 18, 2019, 12:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Odd barrel dimensions???"

It's been a while but IIRC it's a grade 1.

Re: Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by David Williamson on May 18, 2019, 12:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Odd barrel dimensions???"

I agree with Dan. When the 00 grade came out they had Armour Steel. (doesn't mean you could not order Damascus)
Hammer guns did not have serial numbers in the 4xxxx.

Re: Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by Tom Garver on May 18, 2019, 1:11 pm, in reply to "Odd barrel dimensions???"

I agree with Dan and David. I have a hammerless 12 ga in that 43000 serial block that I restored several years ago. It is a Quality 1 with the Reubens barrels. The barrels are amazing and were used on guns up to and including the Deluxe grade. Hunter Arms hammer guns didn't appear until SN 50000 in 1895

Re: Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by Drew Hause on May 18, 2019, 3:13 pm, in reply to "Odd barrel dimensions???"

Sorry gentlemen. Should have remembered
http://members.boardhost.com/lcsmith/msg/1542899172.html

Rubans Royal

Re: Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by Travis Smith on May 18, 2019, 3:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Odd barrel dimensions???"

Sounds like the barrel bore dimensions are not that odd.

I may have an oddity in the gun though.

I am holding it in my hands and it is a field grade "hammerless" regular frame gun, all matching numbers. The frame and side plates have one line of engraving around the borders.

Maybe it is an O grade or maybe I have the grade altogether wrong but it is definitely a hammerless gun.

The serial number is 43231

Re: Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by Travis Smith on May 18, 2019, 3:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Odd barrel dimensions???"

That would be my gun/barrel except mine has a single line of border engraving.

So I must be getting the grades wrong.

So what is mine then?

Thanks all.

3628463

Re: Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by David Williamson on May 18, 2019, 3:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Odd barrel dimensions???"

The early o grades had border line engraving, The No. 1 has some scroll work and something that looked like a nautilus shell.

No. 1 engraving

Posted by Drew Hause on May 18, 2019, 3:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Odd barrel dimensions???"

What Bro. David said

Late No. 1 a more simple design

Re: Odd barrel dimensions???

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on May 18, 2019, 6:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Odd barrel dimensions???"

Travis, if you look closely, you'll see the grade is marked, Grade "1" or "1E" on the barrel just inside the forend lug as opposed to being marked in the typical spot on the receiver.

Some grade 1 guns had the little propeller, some had line engraving, some had no engraving at all; just the better piece of wood.
Good wood is important on any gun; even more so on LC Smiths.

The better wood was what you were paying for when you bought the grade 1 gun over an 0 grade. Also , in this case maybe the Rubens Royal.

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