The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

"H" serial number prefix

Posted by Chick Candler on November 11, 2020, 11:10 pm

I'm tellin' ya'...odd guns seem to find me this year. I've come across a grade 1, with serial number on frame and fore end from 1898. the barrel, however, has a serial number with an "H" in front of it. When I look it up under Hammer guns it doesn't show up. If I enter it as a post 1913 number it shows as a 1919. Although I've read that Hammer guns had an "H" prefix, by 1919 do the records just lump them in with all gauges and grades, while still stamping them with an "H"? Just trying to get a handle on this. Thanks for any input.

Re: "H" serial number prefix

Posted by Tom Garver on November 12, 2020, 5:44 am, in reply to ""H" serial number prefix "

Chick, according to Dr. Stubbendieck's production records, sometime in 1918 all types and gauges were lumped together in the serial number records. Since "F" was the denotation for field grade guns an "H" was used on the hammer guns.

Re: "H" serial number prefix

Posted by David Williamson on November 12, 2020, 7:55 am, in reply to "Re: "H" serial number prefix "

Just to add a few more things, the first serial number I have for the "H" prefix is H201, circa 1918. In catalogs of this period in the description for hammer guns it lists H for 12 gauge guns and HH for 10 gauge guns. This was for ordering hammer guns from local merchants as you were not able to order from Hunter Arms Co. In "The Legend Lives", John Houchins wrote that 10 gauge hammer guns would have a HH on the receivers water table, the irony is that there were no 10 gauge hammer guns made after 1918. The last 10 gauge I have listed was made in 1917. After 1918 only 16 gauge and 12 gauge hammer guns were made.

Chick, it seems your Grade 1 had a set of Royal Steel barrels from a hammer gun. Not an unusual thing to see on regular framed guns.

Re: "H" serial number prefix

Posted by Mike Harris on November 12, 2020, 10:12 am, in reply to "Re: "H" serial number prefix "

Chick, It appears that someone in the past has married a set of hammer gun barrels to your gun. Best, Mike

Re: "H" serial number prefix

Posted by Chick Candler on November 12, 2020, 9:35 pm, in reply to ""H" serial number prefix "

Thanks guys, that's pretty much what I figured. Interestingly, whoever did the work did not mill out the slot in the fore end lug, so the fore end simply pulls off like a non ejector lower grade gun. The clamshell release is just loose in its fitting since the catch has no place to snap in to. It's a nice looking gun with good color until one starts looking closer. Sadly, it has been buggered with a bit.

Re: "H" serial number prefix

Posted by David Williamson on November 13, 2020, 3:15 pm, in reply to "Re: "H" serial number prefix "

Chick here is a picture of a roller release and the lug (loop) that had to be filed to make it work. This is a beavertail for-end put on a hammer gun, and the reason for the release it two fold, one, the beavertail had the banjo cutout already and two, just relying on the "J" spring to hold it on usually does not work. By the way this hammer gun along with it's original barrel has now 4 other barrels for it, the latest being a 32" Specialty Grade with a ventilated rib and screw in chokes. The other barrels snapped right on, the only barrel that needed fit was a 32" Field Grade.

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