The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

LC Smith Double Barrel 12ga Identification

Posted by Benjamin Gooch on October 17, 2025, 11:56 am

Good afternoon!

I recently inherited a LC Smith double barrel 12ga shotgun and wondered if the experts in this forum could help me identify it? From my initial research it looks like it's probably a "Field" model. The serial number is a little hard to make out, but from what I can tell it's "R31618". I can't make out the stamped text below it.

Can this shotgun support modern 12ga loads?

Any other basic information about it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for providing your knowledge and expertise about this firearm.

-Ben
ben.gooch at gmail.com

Re: LC Smith Double Barrel 12ga Identification

Posted by Drew Hause on October 17, 2025, 12:19 pm, in reply to "LC Smith Double Barrel 12ga Identification"

Someone in your family had good taste Benjamin.
It should be marked 'Field' in script on the top of the R barrel.
The 'R' prefix indicates a Regular frame action.

The gun was made 105 years ago and should be evaluated by a double gun specialist before use.
The good news is that the chambers (unless otherwise marked) are 2 3/4".
If the smith finds that the gun locks up tight and the head of the stock is free of cracks, certainly todays 1 oz. at 1200 fps target loads would be appropriate. I would not use today's turkey boomers. And NO STEEL.
The smith can measure the choke constrictions which Hunter Arms did not mark.

Please look around the FAQs for lots of information
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=274&club_id=43784

Re: LC Smith Double Barrel 12ga Identification

Posted by Benjamin Gooch on October 17, 2025, 12:29 pm, in reply to "Re: LC Smith Double Barrel 12ga Identification"

Thank you so much for the information! I will take this information on to our local gunsmith and ensure that all is well with the firearm. Looking forward to taking it to the trap shooting range. Tools like this should be used!

-Ben

« Back to index

157

[ The L.C. Smith Collectors Association ]