The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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LC SMith, 20 gauge 1920's, Safety Question

Posted by Brian Miles on May 28, 2025, 7:28 pm

I have an old LC Smith 20 Ga. from my Grandmother who lived to be 101 years old. There is what looks like a repair near the safety. It looks like someone used solder or silver at the base of the tang or base of the safety to perhaps stop the safety from moving downward or going too far? I do recall my grandmother in 1995 complaining that the gunsmith did a poor job, but I had very few details as to what the problem really was? Without taking the stock off, does anyone know why this little amount of solder metal alloy was added to the place it currently sits? Hopefully the pictures actually download and you can see them. TIA, Brian M

Re: LC SMith, 20 gauge 1920's, Safety Question

Posted by John Mistretta on May 28, 2025, 10:11 pm, in reply to "LC SMith, 20 gauge 1920's, Safety Question"

On older guns there was (is) a three position safety. If you pushed the safety forward the gun would automatically return to safe when the gun was opened. If the safety was pulled back the safety could only be put back on safe manually by pushing the safety forward. This was useful if the gun was being used for targets and the shooter didn’t want to have to constantly take the safety off to fire the shotgun. Perhaps there were concerns about the third position being manual and this was a way to disable it. One possible answer but I think that is it.

Re: LC SMith, 20 gauge 1920's, Safety Question

Posted by Brian Miles on May 29, 2025, 9:28 am, in reply to "Re: LC SMith, 20 gauge 1920's, Safety Question"

John:
Thanks for your input on this 20 Ga Elsie. So..... do you think it would be okay to have the little blob of metal removed?
Would it now damage the functionality of the gun? Its a family gun, so not trying to sell it, just want the gun to be normal and functional as it was a 100 years ago.
Thanks, Brian M

Re: LC SMith, 20 gauge 1920's, Safety Question

Posted by David Williamson on May 31, 2025, 5:57 am, in reply to "Re: LC SMith, 20 gauge 1920's, Safety Question"

Brian, having the solder removed will not hurt anything. I have seen pictures where some have drilled a hold and put a short screw there to do the same thing.
In your grandmother's case it could have been that the safety was put in the rear position accidently and she or someone else didn't know that and the gun discharged when the shooter wasn't ready.

Re: LC SMith, 20 gauge 1920's, Safety Question

Posted by Tom Garver on May 31, 2025, 7:08 pm, in reply to "LC SMith, 20 gauge 1920's, Safety Question"

Brian, upon researching Houchins, he states that there were 3 styles of safeties from 1885-1950. Style 1 and 2 were three position as described and were standard until 1902. They had a rectangular window that showed SAFE when in that position. After 1902 the three position was a special order. I'm guessing that your gun is a two position because it has the third style safety button. If this a lower grade gun I doubt that the buyer paid extra for the three position. I'll further suppose that either the safety spring is broken or the small pin that goes thru the safety button tang is broken or missing. That spot of solder keeps the safety button from moving to the rear so the safety doesn't fall apart. Your gun would have to be disassembled to repair this issue.

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