The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

Butt stock interchangeability

Posted by Wade Jones on August 28, 2025, 4:25 pm

Hello Gentlemen,
First-time post. I'm working on an L.C. Field grade 20-gauge Featherweight. As expected, the stock is in bad shape. Many cracks and chunks are missing from the side plate inletting. My question: If I were to attempt to find a replacement stock, is there a difference between a 12-gauge version and a 20-gauge version, or are they interchangeable? Thanks for any insight.

Re: Butt stock interchangeability

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on August 29, 2025, 1:27 am, in reply to "Butt stock interchangeability"

The stock you're looking for is specific to a twenty gauge.

Re: Butt stock interchangeability

Posted by John Pulis on August 29, 2025, 7:17 am, in reply to "Butt stock interchangeability"

Have you checked Numrich? They had 20 gauge FW stocks that would need to be fitted. Also look at EBay, every once in a while someone posts parts for LCs.

Jerry Andrew’s May be able to help as well.

Re: Butt stock interchangeability

Posted by Jerry Andrews on September 1, 2025, 1:17 pm, in reply to "Butt stock interchangeability"

As a person who has restocked almost 400 of these guns don’t be mislead by a “ 90%”
In letter stock. Still 100%!of the technical work remains. And yes a 12,16 or 20 gauge are interchangeable if both are of the same frame size, such as featherweights or regular frames ( note: no regular frame 20 gauge guns exist to my knowledge) With that being said, transferring a stock rarely works. Way too much hand fitting initially. Just my opinion here. Jerry

Re: Butt stock interchangeability

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on September 2, 2025, 2:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Butt stock interchangeability"

I guess what I was trying to convey is what would be correct; not what would merely fit.

Re: Butt stock interchangeability

Posted by Carl Erickson Jr on September 2, 2025, 4:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Butt stock interchangeability"

In many cases it is much easier to repair/refinish the existing stock. If you examine the web sites of the different collector groups you can find out h0w to do it.

Re: Butt stock interchangeability

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on September 2, 2025, 4:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Butt stock interchangeability"

I've done many, including Straight grip conversions, buttstock transplants, checkering, etc.
At some point it just lost it's appeal.

Re: Butt stock interchangeability

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on September 2, 2025, 5:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Butt stock interchangeability"

The point I was trying to make, Carl, is LC Smith made at around 15 different stocks from 1884 to 1971.
They certainly aren't all the same.
Some of them will fit but that doesn't mean they're correct.
For example just because a 16ga stock fits a twelve I think we can all agree it would look funny and certainly not be correct.

Re: Butt stock interchangeability

Posted by Wade Jones on September 22, 2025, 4:34 pm, in reply to "Butt stock interchangeability"

Thanks to everyone for the responses. Given the amount of damage to the butt stock, I have little hope of repairing it. Do y'all have a source for a new replacement stock or used stocks? I'm no stock maker, so blanks would be out of the question. I have been trying to upload an image, but nothing happens when I click "upload image," so my apologies for that. Suffice it to say, a big chunk of the stock with inletting under the lock plates has completely fallen out.

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