The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Rob Ross on December 5, 2022, 4:34 pm

My friend inherited a this shotgun and I'm having trouble nailing down it's manufacture date.
Serial #33203 no letters associated.
Locking plates have no etching beyond the name and there is very limited etching on the receiver.
It doesn't seem to match up to the descriptions in the grading page.
Case hardened receiver.

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Tom Garver on December 5, 2022, 6:16 pm, in reply to "SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

Rob, your friends gun is a Quality 1 that was built sometime in 1891. A LCSCA research letter will give you more info on this particular gun. It appears to be well used and the added lump on the Prince of Wales stock is quite interesting.

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Drew Hause on December 6, 2022, 7:28 am, in reply to "SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

Very interesting Rob. Please check out the "What is a transition gun?" under the "History" FAQs
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=274&club_id=43784

Courtesy of David Williamson

Your gun appears to be missing the ebony FE tip and escutcheon

The damascus pattern is faded but I believe it is "Washington" which is not commonly seen on Smith guns

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Rob Ross on December 6, 2022, 8:03 pm, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

Thanks Tom. He told me that his family story surrounding the gun is that it was used in a competition by his Great Grandfather in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show... *shrug*. First thing I did when I got my hands on it was to remove the butt plate to find 5 years of hunting licenses rolled up in the stock, 1924 - 1929.

That added bump on the PoW grip is the main thing that threw me off. I haven't removed it yet but it looks "professionally" added, especially considering that the trigger guard fits to it.

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Rob Ross on December 6, 2022, 8:38 pm, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

Hi Drew, thanks for your response. It's even more interesting...
It appears to have the Fulton style receiver with the Syracuse foregrip; and the etching is nothing like those two pictured.

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by David Williamson on December 7, 2022, 5:42 am, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

Fulton serial numbers started at 30000 and many of the early ones we call Transition guns, being that the transition from Syracuse to Fulton many of these early guns have the attributes of a Syracuse gun with now Fulton parts. The bottom of the receiver is one, Syracuse guns had the squared rectangular lug coming through the receiver as shown in the pictures, whereas the Fulton guns were rounded. Also many of these early Fulton guns had no makers name on the barrels. The early engraving is another, the lowest grade made at Syracuse was a Grade 2, Fulton started with a Grade 1.

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Drew Hause on December 7, 2022, 6:50 am, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

Let us know the name of your friend's GGF and I'll check the Sporting Life archives and see if there is a record of him competing

Maybe he is one of these fellas!

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Rob Ross on December 12, 2022, 5:47 pm, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

That would be cool. His name is Clarence A. Wright. He signed his hunting licenses C.A.Wright

Thanks

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Drew Hause on December 13, 2022, 7:31 am, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

No hits in the Sporting Life archives Rob.

For what state is the hunting license?

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Rob Ross on December 14, 2022, 6:42 pm, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

Brown County, Illinois.

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Kris Kehl on December 16, 2022, 6:23 pm, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

I believe I’m correct when I say Transition guns are post 1913 made. No Curtis fore end indicates post 1919?

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Kris Kehl on December 16, 2022, 6:27 pm, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

Wouldn’t serial number 33xxx make it a Field grade, Therefore no Curtis forearm?

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Drew Hause on December 16, 2022, 6:30 pm, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

Please see "What is a transition gun?" under the "History" FAQs
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=274&club_id=43784

Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed

Posted by Thomas carrier on December 18, 2022, 12:29 pm, in reply to "Re: SxS DBL Damascus steel - help needed"

U are totally wrong on both comments.
Transition models are pre 13 n Curtis forends are 1914/1919

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