The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Richard Barbera on April 2, 2023, 7:42 pm

I have a 16 gauge 1907 0 grade LC with Damascus Barrels. Looking to possibly replace the barrels with Armor Steel barrels from a 1923
16ga field gr Elsie. To anyone's knowledge, would this be an interchangeable fit? And...would my existing forearm also fit on the steel barrels...?
the inside of the tubes look very pitted or corrosive > so I've never attempted to fire it.

This was my granddads shotgun & I posted about it long ago IIRC.
The forearm was in need of repair due a nail being driven into it & the ebony tip was chipped out. I have since repaired that.
In the process now of recuttng the buttstock end & adding a recoil pad, along w/ refinishing the stock & forearm. Someone had previously cut the stock at a weird angle.

Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Tom Archer on April 2, 2023, 9:26 pm, in reply to "Damascus Barrel Replacement"

Most early 16-bore Smith guns are built on R frames, as is your gun. You'd need to find a set of R framed barres to fit your frame; and very few 16-bore guns were built on R frames after 1913 as the majority were built on FW frames. However, if you can find a set 16-bore R frame barrels the odds are good those barrels could be fitted to your frame.

Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Richard Barbera on April 4, 2023, 11:54 am, in reply to "Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement"

Thx for the info Tom…!
I guess it’s touch & go as far as a good fit.
Do you know where I could find info on the different LC frame sizes & The Featherlight Series…?

Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Charlie Brooks on April 4, 2023, 1:29 pm, in reply to "Damascus Barrel Replacement"

The question is,how bad of condition are these original barrels in that you want to replace them? Many of us shoot these old guns as they are a lot and have no problems.You will run into the chamber length issue even with steel barrels.Many like myself lengthen these chambers and forcing cones in these guns and shoot them with resonable reloads and enjoy them as they are.Be very aware that some of the factory 16ga ammo made other than in the US will and can have chamber pressures way above our Us standards.These can take these guns apart as I have seen first hand.Good luck,Charlie.

Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Richard Barbera on April 4, 2023, 4:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement"

Charlie...

On the outside, the barrels look fine, no bulges or dents. Inside they look fairly pitted or corrosive? My granddad was the orig owner & used it to hunt rabbits long before the SF Giants Ballpark at Candlestick Point was built.
I'm certainly not qualified enough to make a judgement call on whether it's reliable to shoot or not. The Gunsmith at the LGS is out for awhile due to any eye injury...
The gun was checked out long ago by Micro-Sight (now defunct) in the Bay Area when they replaced the firing pins for me. The gun functions as it should & the lockup is right on the money

Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Tom Archer on April 4, 2023, 10:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement"

Send your gun to gunsmith Buck Hamlin in Pevely MO and allow him to evaluate your barrels. Buck is an expert on Smith gun and Damascus barrels. I suspect, even though these barrels may be pitted, they remain shootable with proper ammunition. Pitted bores certainly aren't pretty; but I've never had an issue shooting pitted barrels, Damascus or steel. I think Buck's telephone number is 636/479-4304; and like me, many members here have used Buck for barrel work, and you can use my name as Buck knows me well.

Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Charlie Brooks on April 4, 2023, 10:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement"

Your gun looks nice.If the pits are not too deep,you can hone and polish the bores yourself without much expense.For just crud and corrosion removal I use a oak wooden dowel with a slot cut in it to hold a strip of scotch bright.I chuck the dowel in a drill motor and run it for a while back and forth through the bores.I'd soak the bores first with some Hoppes or other cleaner before your scrub.If you have any questions you may give me a call. 410-756-2095 Best of luck,Charlie.

Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Rich Barbera on April 5, 2023, 2:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement"

This pic is the best I could do w/ a cell phone after a cleaning & scrubbing w/ scratchbrite. Looks a bit torn up to me

Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Charlie Brooks on April 5, 2023, 6:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement"

Rich,Is the rest of the barrel better than the first couple inches? If it is,cutting the forcing cones may remove most of these pits and dress the chambers a bit.Wished that we were closer.I would love to look at these barrels.Updating these chambers to 2.750" length would cut .187 of metal in the front of your old chambers and then about 1.500" being cut with the new forcing cone area.Of the many cones that I have cut on the 16ga guns,this area has clened up any pits.Find someone that really knows about this procedure like Briley before moving forward.Charlie.

Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement

Posted by Rich Barbera on April 5, 2023, 8:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Damascus Barrel Replacement"

It's hard to tell, but I think the pitting seems to go up about 3/4 of the way, but def not as bad as the first part of barrel. Left barrel is in better condition than the other...

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