The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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Serial number dilemma

Posted by Ted Shoemaker on January 23, 2021, 9:59 am

I have a 16ga Trap grade that has a serial # of 19854E. However it has a number 2 that is slightly smaller and not quite in alignment with the 19845. If I do a serial no. search using the 2 it comes back no match in any gauge. If I drop the 2 it comes back 1920 in all gauges except 410 and 8ga. I know the Hunter Arms Co. was in transition to new ownership at this time & there was confusion on guns in this period. I want to send for a Research Letter but wonder which serial no. to use. The 2 is on all three parts of the gun. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Serial number dilemma

Posted by stanley hackett on January 23, 2021, 10:54 am, in reply to "Serial number dilemma"

Give all the information you have; Jim Stubbendieck will know what to do. He will likely chime in on this thread when he sees it. Stanley

Re: Serial number dilemma

Posted by Ted Shoemaker on January 23, 2021, 12:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Serial number dilemma"

Thanks Stan, I suspect you are right.

Re: Serial number dilemma

Posted by Jim Stubbendieck on January 23, 2021, 1:15 pm, in reply to "Serial number dilemma"
Edited by board administrator January 23, 2021, 1:21 pm

Ted:

I searched all of the records for SN 19854 and 198542 and found nothing that went to a Trap Grade.

SN 198542 - 12 gauge Field Grade 1942
SN 19854 - 12 gauge Fulton 1919
SN FWS19854 - 20 gauge Field Grade 1947

I searched the Miscellaneous Records (several thousand serial numbers in seemingly random order with many made at the transition from the Hunter Bros.) with no record even near the two possible serial numbers.

It appears that I am not going to be of any help to you. However, I would like to see a photograph of the serial number on the water table and/or on the barrels and forend. Something may come to mind when I see the numbers and how they were stamped.

Thanks,

Jim

Re: Serial number dilemma

Posted by Ken Descovich on January 23, 2021, 2:43 pm, in reply to "Serial number dilemma"

Serial number 19845 and not 19854?

Re: Serial number dilemma

Posted by Ted Shoemaker on January 23, 2021, 3:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Serial number dilemma"

Jim, I apologize for not being clear, the 2 is the first number 219854E or without the 2 it is 19854E The 19854E came up 16ga & 1920 yr. of mfr. in the look up serial number here on the web page. This gun had letter at one time & I think it was found by you in the Miscellaneous Records, I do not have a copy of that letter.
Thank You Ted

Re: Serial number dilemma

Posted by Ted Shoemaker on January 23, 2021, 3:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Serial number dilemma"

Ken, the number on the gun on all three parts is 19854E.
tHANKS tED

Re: Serial number dilemma

Posted by Jim Stubbendieck on January 23, 2021, 3:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Serial number dilemma"

I was placing the 2 at the end of the serial number rather than at the beginning. Serial Number 219854 is in the Miscellaneous Ledger. It was finished in November 1919.

None of the shotguns in this ledger are in the "look up" feature that my son and I made for the website. The reason for these omissions is that each of the thousands would have had to have been entered individually, whereas the others were in sequence and could be entered in large blocks.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Jim

Re: Serial number dilemma

Posted by Ted Shoemaker on January 23, 2021, 3:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Serial number dilemma"

JIM, thanks for your time and effort, I will be sending request for Research Letter on this gun. I have a letter on each of my smith's, they are worth every penny. Thanks for your great work for all of us.

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