The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Howard Popple on June 29, 2021, 12:03 pm

I received a hammerless double barrel shotgun as a hand me down from my grandmother. I have been trying to identify the year, manufacture, grade for this. The only thing I know about it is it is stamped “LC Smith” on the side plates. I’ve found several markings on it in multiple locations. Believe the serial # to be “5234” which is stamped in multiple locations. Attached you will see all the marking for the gun. If you need further info please let me know. Any insight would be extremely helpful.

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by David Austin on June 29, 2021, 12:42 pm, in reply to "Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

O grade.....with ejectors....damascus barrels....made 1901

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Drew Hause on June 29, 2021, 12:42 pm, in reply to "Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

Neat Howard. It is a No. 0E (Ejector) with damascus barrels made about 1901

$60 then would be almost $2000 today

A Research Letter would confirm the DOM and might document the original purchaser
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=43784&module_id=245742

Please look over the Shotguns and FAQ sections on the Home Page for lots more information.
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=43784

The gun of course should be carefully evaluated by a qualified double gun specialist, with particular attention to the barrel integrity and wall thickness, before use.

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Howard Popple on June 29, 2021, 1:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

Thank you sir for the information. It’s definitely an interesting piece of history. I’ll request the research letter and hope it gives me more information.

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Howard Popple on June 29, 2021, 1:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

Awesome sir. Thanks for the information.

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Tom Archer on June 29, 2021, 5:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

Your gun has the first variation of Hunter's TYPE II auto-ejector design; and as the first variation was only produced for a short period, it's rare to find a gun with that feature. Do you see the words, or abbreviations "Patent Applied For" or an actual patent date on the fore iron? Advise. Your gun appears to be in decent shape, but I see two screws with issues so send it to a good double gun smith and have those, and the piece missing from the stock repaired. Great inheritance! Best, Tom

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Howard Popple on June 29, 2021, 7:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

Excuse me for being dumb when it comes to these shotguns. What is the fore iron? Only date I found on it was mar 29, 83.

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Tom Archer on June 29, 2021, 9:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

Open and cock the gun; with the gun cocked, remove the forend (as you have done already). Look on the flat part of the fore iron (the part hidden when the barrels are attached). You've already seen the serial number on that component, so look again for a patent date as the auto ejector patent date will be located there as per the photo below; and if so that TYPE II auto-ejector patent will be dated May 28, 1901. But some of the earliest TYPE II auto-ejector guns, those built before the patent grant, might read Patent Applied For; and it's also possible that a lower grade auto-ejector gun like yours built before the 5/28/01 patent grant date may not have an auto-ejector patent reference at all.

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Howard Popple on June 29, 2021, 9:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

I do not see a patent date or patten applied for on the fore iron. Thanks for all of the information on the shotgun. I’ll definitely have it checked out and repaired.

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Tom Archer on June 30, 2021, 10:12 am, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

Glad to know you plan to preserve your gun; and once you do you can enjoy shooting the gun with period correct ammo. As to the patent date, the earliest number I've seen with the words "Patent Applied For" was #5020. It was a very high grade, but your gun is also a low numbered gun; so I'm guessing, since the patent grant wasn't yet official and yours was a lower-grade model, the makers simply skipped that detail. Just one other detail that makes your gun a bit more interesting; but most interesting is that you have the ownership history of your gun.

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Howard Popple on June 30, 2021, 10:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

Thank you sir. Hope to get it right and get to shooting it soon.

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by James Jones on July 15, 2021, 7:50 am, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

Trying to Id a serial 18205 10 gauge double

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by Tom Archer on July 15, 2021, 2:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

The serial number tells us almost nothing as that serial number was used more than once, so you'll need to provide more details. Why not begin by posting some pics?

Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun

Posted by David Williamson on July 16, 2021, 6:14 am, in reply to "Re: Help with ID on double barrel shotgun"

That serial number could be a Syracuse L.C. Smith made in 1887, but as Tom has said pictures or more detailed information.

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