The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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Cracked Forend,1948 20 guage

Posted by John Chambers on January 28, 2023, 12:38 pm

I recently observed a 1948 manufacture FWT 20 ga. Field Grade with all the bells and whistles in little used condition.Exceptional wood in both
buttstock and forend,ejectors,and selective Hunter-One trigger.However,the forend is cracked
transversly,apparantly across the entire forend,about mid length.How common is this?Possibly caused by improper forend removal,reassembly,or, tension from the ejector springs ??

Re: Cracked Forend,1948 20 guage

Posted by Tom Archer on January 28, 2023, 2:48 pm, in reply to "Cracked Forend,1948 20 guage"

Because the gun has auto-ejectors, the forearm wood was most likely cracked by someone attempting to attach the forearm without first cocking the hammers. I would be inclined to believe the wood could be repaired to stronger that new by a good wood smith; and possibly invisibly depending on whether or not a repair attempt has already been made.

Re: Cracked Forend,1948 20 guage

Posted by David Williamson on January 29, 2023, 7:10 am, in reply to "Re: Cracked Forend,1948 20 guage"

Tom it was my understanding that the wood was cracked transversely and I am wondering if the stock and forearm wood were replaced because poster said it had a very nice piece of wood. I don't know how a piece of wood would crack transversely unless the grain was going the wrong way.

Re: Cracked Forend,1948 20 guage

Posted by John Chambers on January 29, 2023, 1:18 pm, in reply to "Cracked Forend,1948 20 guage"

Interestingly, Michael McIntosh writes on page 64
of Best Guns, that he had a similar 20 ga. Field
Grade made during the same period that "was factory stocked with an extremely fine piece of fiddleback walnut". The same for the gun in question. Possibly Marlin had a particularly nice
batch of wood sometime in 1948.I hope to examine the gun further.

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