The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels

Posted by Delbert Driver on February 17, 2021, 12:49 pm

Hello, I plan to get a valuation performed, but wondering if anyone has knowledge if there were possibly some 24" barrels from the "factory". If they were cut, it was done very cleanly. Cursory check of the ID shows to be in the range of "Modified", measuring 0.659. Thanks for any input at this point.

Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels

Posted by Drew Hause on February 17, 2021, 2:08 pm, in reply to "16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels"

Dr. Jim has documented 8 16g Field grades 1912-1950 with 24" barrels.
A Research Letter would confirm if your gun is one of the 8
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=43784&module_id=245742

From at least 1936 the 16g bore was .662", suggesting your barrels started out as 26" IC/M if the current muzzle diameter is .659". The 16g choke length was about 1 1/2".

Please let us know what the Research Letter discloses.

Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels

Posted by Ken Descovich on February 17, 2021, 2:13 pm, in reply to "Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels"

If you are a paid member you can request the barrel length be confirmed through Jim our records man via email.
Ken

Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels

Posted by Stanley Hackett on February 17, 2021, 2:13 pm, in reply to "16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels"

According to L. C. Smith Production Records (James Stubbendieck, 2013), eight 16 gauge Field Grade shotguns were made with 24 inch barrels. A Research Letter (details on this website) should tell you whether the pictured gun was manufactured with such barrels. (I assume you have the serial number).

Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels

Posted by Delbert Driver on February 17, 2021, 2:23 pm, in reply to "Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels"

Drew, Ken & Stanley, thank you kindly for your time and input. I just joined the Association, so will follow up as you have suggested. Slim chances I would have 1 of 8, but then I recall having 1 of 227 in a Remington 600 .223 with vent rib.....while I was young and going to school and needed money....I sold that gun for $100, what I paid for it.....and the rest is painful memory of what I didn't know I had! I will post an update when the verdict comes.

Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels

Posted by Tom Archer on February 17, 2021, 3:23 pm, in reply to "16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels"

In my novice opinion, those barrels have been shortened. The end of the raised rib, which should be solid, appears to be filled with solder, and I don't see evidence of the steel "anvil" spacers filling the voids between the barrel tubes; those areas are also filed with solder, and the barrel tubes don't touch (another indicator). If the tubes are cut, the gun is still most likely a great upland tight cover gun; but cut tubes seriously impact value and re-salability. The only way to be certain is to request a research letter from Jim Stubbendieck; and for whatever it's worth Jim has found in the records notations of the factory actually shortening the barrels of finished guns, so who knows what a records search might reveal?

Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels

Posted by Ken Descovich on February 17, 2021, 6:15 pm, in reply to "16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels"

I have found that the barrels do not always touch at the muzzle as my recent purchase of the very first pigeon gun with 32 inch barrels do not touch.
Ken

Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels

Posted by Tom Archer on February 17, 2021, 8:59 pm, in reply to "Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels"

No they don't; but even non-touching tubes have the gaps/voids at the muzzle end of the barrels filled with steel plugs, or "anvils" as opposed to those gaps being plugged with solder, as was obviously done with the muzzle ends of the barrels above.

Re: 16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels

Posted by Jim Bundy on April 27, 2021, 4:07 pm, in reply to "16 Ga, Field, 1949 Year - With 24" Barrels"
Edited by board administrator April 27, 2021, 4:22 pm

sleive left barrel to full,it will be your go to gun

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