The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

Regular vs Featherweight

Posted by Rick Fischer on September 14, 2025, 1:47 pm

I found a diagram on the internet that illustrates the difference between regular and featherweight frames. Is there a practical difference between the two frames? I assume the featherweight is lighter. Is there any difference besides weight? Is it used with smaller bore guns? Also, I've noticed FW stamped by the serial number on the water table of several guns. Is that for featherweight?

Re: Regular vs Featherweight

Posted by Steve Arnett on September 14, 2025, 4:31 pm, in reply to "Regular vs Featherweight"

Rick, yes the FW stamp means Featherweight. You will also encounter "FWS" prefix on L.C. Smith Gun Company guns made after Marlin purchase the assets from Hunter Arms in 1945. This frame was used in 12,16, and 20 ga. guns. All FWS Marlin era guns were made on the Featherweight frame.Quickly identifiable differences:
Added screw in each sideplate, under the breechface.
Shorter distance from breeface to hinge pin, as well as shorter recoil lug showing through the bottom of the frame.

Re: Regular vs Featherweight

Posted by Rick Fischer on September 14, 2025, 6:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Regular vs Featherweight"

Thanks for the reply. Looking for a 20 ga sxs, some nice boxlocks out there in my price range, but the LC Smiths I'm seeing intrigue me. Trying to come up to speed before I commit.

Re: Regular vs Featherweight

Posted by Steve Arnett on September 15, 2025, 10:04 am, in reply to "Re: Regular vs Featherweight"

Rick, e-mail me at steve.arnett54@gmail.com. If you are a member of LCSCA, visit the Members Only Forum, where you may find guns for sale.

Re: Regular vs Featherweight

Posted by Tom Archer on September 16, 2025, 11:16 am, in reply to "Re: Regular vs Featherweight"

For the record, Smith guns with FW framed guns are not always lighter than Smith guns on R frames even though that seems to be the implication, as before Hunter introduced the FW frame, their catalogs advertised 12-gauge guns as light at 6 1/2 pounds. There were several methods the company employed to adjust gun weight such as barrel length and thickness, wood density, lightning wood by boring holes under the butt plate to either make stock wood lighter or fill with lead to increase weight or alter the balance point; and they also lightened the frame itself by drilling holes and eliminating metal in areas where frame strength was not impacted. But even after the R frame was completely eliminated, a customer could still order an 8 to 9 pound 12-bore gun built on the FW frame.

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