The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

Trigger Guard Bluing

Posted by Barry D. Thomas on September 27, 2024, 11:33 am

Good day, I am trying to educate myself, so please forgive me if the following falls short in some way.
Can someone please tell me if there was a difference in the trigger guard bluing used on LC Smith Field grades manufactured 1945-1946 and the trigger guard bluing used 1940-1941? Hunter vs Marlon eras. I am looking at two field grades from the abovementioned timeframes. I think both are original. I notice that the 40-41 trigger guard bluing is definitely bluer than the 45-46 guard. The 45-46 guard looks blacker. Is this a normal observation, in general?
I do sincerely appreciate any input you all can offer me.

Barry Thomas
skeetbt1@gmail.com

Re: Trigger Guard Bluing

Posted by Drew Hause on September 27, 2024, 6:57 pm, in reply to "Trigger Guard Bluing"

I was hoping someone who actually knew the answer would be along Barry. It is certainly possible that Marlin used a different blueing process.

Hunter Arms Forend iron was case colored on higher grade and ejector guns; extractor 0, 00, Ideal and Field were Nitre Blued.
The trigger guard and screws were Nitre Blued, as was the top-lever screw in the trigger plate.

Re: Trigger Guard Bluing

Posted by Barry Thomas on September 27, 2024, 9:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Trigger Guard Bluing"

Many thanks. Very helpful!

Re: Trigger Guard Bluing

Posted by David Williamson on September 28, 2024, 2:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Trigger Guard Bluing"

Trigger guards were Nitre blued, forend iron was case colored on all ejector guns and on some non-ejector guns. The screws were also Nitre blued.
The picture shown is an ejector gun and the forend iron looks Nitre blued and to me the gun looks to be refurbished, not factory and one thing that stands out is that the screws are not timed to the gun.

In the years following when Marlin started making L.C. Smiths' again they had problems doing the case hardening because there were no "old timers" to tell how it was done and many frames were ruined, the same with the rust bluing process.

Re: Trigger Guard Bluing

Posted by Drew Hause on September 28, 2024, 3:06 pm, in reply to "Trigger Guard Bluing"

These are all Skip's guns.

A FW IdealE 2 barrel set with case colored FE iron

Another Ideal with the chamber length marked so likely a Marlin era gun; I believe a non-ejector with what appears to be Nitre blued FE iron

Re: Trigger Guard Bluing

Posted by Drew Hause on September 28, 2024, 3:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Trigger Guard Bluing"

A Reg frame non-ejector Field

« Back to index

362

[ The L.C. Smith Collectors Association ]