The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

Skeet Special 12 gauge w/ 3” chambers

Posted by Kris Kehl on July 15, 2024, 7:02 pm

I’ve recently became the next caretaker of an LC Smith 12 gauge Skeet Special. I believe its configuration to be unique. I’m wondering if anyone else has a brother to mine. Skeet Special/Regular frame/Ejectors/HOT-Single Selective Trigger/32” barrels/Vent Rib/3” Chambers/Forearm I’ll describe as Beavertail with Schnabel. I’ve read many of the past posts on this Forum concerning Skeet Specials. It seems 32” barrels aren’t too rare but I’m under the impression that there weren’t too many Regular frames, or many with vent ribs. I didn’t find any comments stating that they had a Skeet Special with 3” chambers. Upon additional reading in the Forum I learned that 3” chambers doesn’t make any LC a Long Range/Waterfowl, which is a topic to itself. Anyone have a brother to this one?

Re: Skeet Specials

Posted by Jim Stubbendieck on July 15, 2024, 9:54 pm, in reply to "Skeet Special 12 gauge w/ 3” chambers"

Skeet Special information from the records . . .
778 Skeet Specials
545 in 12 gauge
207 of the 545 were built on regular-weight frames
61 of the 207 had 32-inch barrels
50 of the 61 with 32-inch barrels had a ventilated rib
all were shipped with a "streamlined" beavertail forearm

Number with 3-inch chambers is the "big unknown", because chamber length was seldom recorded in Hunter Arms Company ledgers.

Re: Skeet Specials

Posted by Kris Kehl on July 16, 2024, 12:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Skeet Specials"

Do the records distinguish between “streamlined beavertail “ and Schnabel? Or do you believe that the forearm wood to be a replacement? Numbers match. Thought I remember reading on this Forum earlier made Skeet Specials had Schnabel forearms.

Re: Skeet Specials

Posted by Jim Stubbendieck on July 16, 2024, 4:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Skeet Specials"

"Streamlined beavertail" was part of Hunter Arms Company advertising for Premier Skeets and occasionally for Skeet Specials. The word "Schnabel" never appeared in the ledgers for any grade. Beavertail forends were simply recorded as "B" with no indication of different types. Upon closer searching, I found records for five 12 gauge regular-weight Skeet Specials with 32-inch vent rib barrels without a beavertail.

Re: Skeet Special 12 gauge w/ 3” chambers

Posted by Kris Kehl on July 18, 2024, 5:08 pm, in reply to "Skeet Special 12 gauge w/ 3” chambers"

Anyone else out there have a Skeet Special with factory 3” chambers?

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