Mfg date and missing firing pins

Posted by Ken Henk on February 25, 2021, 2:39 pm

New to this site and planning on getting research letter. Inherited from my father a LC Smith 12 ga, 32" barrels, hammers, serial # 173567 F, and planning on cleaning it up. Hunter Arms Co stamped on rib and LC Smith on side plates. Looking up serial # in tables, found it listed in 1914 and 1939. Wondering what is mfg. date for this gun, what type of barrels, and if firing pins can be obtained and are they standard or different by mfg date? Not sure if photos uploaded? Thanks

Date of Manufacture

Posted by Jim Stubbendieck on February 25, 2021, 3:40 pm, in reply to "Mfg date and missing firing pins"

Missing firing pins

Posted by Drew Hause on February 25, 2021, 4:07 pm, in reply to "Mfg date and missing firing pins"

Welcome Ken. Your Dad's F grade hammer gun barrels are Twist, and when the shell box warning regarding use of Damascus or Twist barrels was published starting in 1937, it was not uncommon for the firing pins to be removed for the protection of the unknowing. Your gun should not be used, with any shells, until it has been evaluated by a double gun specialist with the interest, equipment (bore scope and wall thickness gauge), and expertise to properly do so. The hammer gun pins look like this, courtesy of David Williamson. They are out of stock at Numrich but do come up on ebay occasionally. post a picture

Re: Missing firing pins

Posted by Louis Rotelli on February 25, 2021, 6:36 pm, in reply to "Missing firing pins"

Re: Mfg date and missing firing pins

Posted by David deFernelmont on February 25, 2021, 7:44 pm, in reply to "Mfg date and missing firing pins"