The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

Chamber length in 1891?

Posted by Lloyd McKissick on July 31, 2023, 5:33 pm

I measured this gun last friday with a Galazan chamber gauge down at my old shop and it showed the gun as having very short chambers (something like 2 1/4-inch) so...OK, probably not SAAMI specs here. Accordingly, I presumed that this gun had shorter 12-gauge chambers (like 2 5/8th) but I just now was looking at a light source through the barrels and the transition from chamber to barrel is very distinct. I then put a pencil into the barrels and stopped the tip right at that transition and then measured the mark I made on the pencil for the depth it had traveled into the tube, That measurement was exactly 2 3/4-inches. Does that sound right? I'm fairly comfortable with the fact that these tubes have never been altered.

these old SXS shotguns used a all metal case

Posted by Jent P Mitchell III on July 31, 2023, 6:58 pm, in reply to "Chamber length in 1891?"

These old SXS shotguns used (fired) an all metal shotgun shell ...... the inside diameter of the all metal shotgun shell and the bore were almost the same ..... there was no need for much of a forcing cone if any at all ..... we have reamers to convert these old shotguns to shoot modern plastic 2 and 3/4 inch 12 gauge shotgun shells ..... posted by Jent.

Re: these old SXS shotguns used a all metal case

Posted by Lloyd Mckissick on July 31, 2023, 9:05 pm, in reply to "these old SXS shotguns used a all metal case"

Thank you Mr. Mitchell. So...the Brits weren't the only ones using brass shells eh? I believe they referred to them as "perfects" (?) and it would explain why my pricey turned-brass chamber gauge wouldn't work here.

Re: these old SXS shotguns used a all metal case

Posted by Jerry Andrews on August 1, 2023, 6:13 am, in reply to "Re: these old SXS shotguns used a all metal case"

I’ve worked on hundreds if not thousands of these old Smith guns . While I’ve learned to say never I’ve never measured a Smith 12 gauge shorter than 2 3/4”. Jerry

Re: these old SXS shotguns used a all metal case

Posted by Lloyd McKissick on August 1, 2023, 8:29 am, in reply to "Re: these old SXS shotguns used a all metal case"

Thankyou Mr. Andrews. I've heard that elsewhere as well.

Re: Chamber length in 1891?

Posted by Drew Hause on August 1, 2023, 4:08 pm, in reply to "Chamber length in 1891?"

Information from the PGCA site regarding the early brass shells
https://parkerguns.org/pages/faq/12B.htm

Paper cases were however in general use in the 1880s, and the chambers bored for paper cases

1886 Chamberlin Cartridge catalog

Brass cases were available well into the 1920s

Re: Chamber length in 1891?

Posted by Drew Hause on August 1, 2023, 4:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Chamber length in 1891?"

This is a 1907 engineering drawing for the Hunter Arms' 12g chambers, and I believe the dimensions were similar from the beginning

The forcing cones were 1/2" to 5/8"

Re: Chamber length in 1891?

Posted by Lloyd Mckissick on August 1, 2023, 7:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Chamber length in 1891?"

That is excellent, thank you Sir.

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