The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Quintin Monnin on November 24, 2025, 3:05 pm

Hello all, I picked up this LC Smith recently and I just wanted to make sure I was correct with it’s information and also make sure I was safe with the gun itself.

So a few questions, does the O under the serial mean this gun is an early 1900’s mfg shotgun, instead of a mid-20’s shotgun like I originally thought based on serial number sourcing from this site and ATF C&R listings?

2.75” shells and snap caps will chamber just fine in the gun, but would this be unsafe and would the gun be actually chambered for 2.5” or 2 9/16” shells given it’s mfg date? I really like the gun, and want it to be my clay destroyer. I just don’t want to damage it or have a spontaneous disassembly into my person. The barrels do not have any other markings that I can see on them at all to help me with these questions. I can upload more pictures as needed. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide!

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Drew Hause on November 24, 2025, 4:10 pm, in reply to "New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

It is a No. 0 made in 1901.
A hardware store catalog from that year

The forend is from another gun made in either 1898 or 1918.

The No. 0 was supplied with Damascus barrels until London Steel was offered in 1907. If the barrels are not marked LONDON or possibly ARMOR just forward of the flats then the barrels are damascus, and have clearly been blued possibly to hide that fact.
If blued by hot caustic salts, the ribs, and potentially the tubes will separate over time.

I'm sorry, but can you return the gun?
Damascus barrels can be used with appropriate loads, but will require an evaluation by a qualified barrel specialist regarding wall thickness, pitting and the top and bottom ribs.

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Quintin Monnin on November 24, 2025, 4:23 pm, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

Thank you for the information, I had figured it had been refinished at some point.

Unlikely I can return it, as I swapped it for a mixmaster Mauser rifle at a local show. I guess that is what it is on that front. I will take it to a gunsmith and have them figure out what I can do with it. I’m assuming appropriate loads are very light target loads for the barrels?

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Drew Hause on November 24, 2025, 4:45 pm, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

The gunsmith will need to examine the bores for pitting with a bore scope, and measure the wall thickness from breech to muzzle. If he can't do that, you need another smith.
Unfortunately, as part of 'cleaning up' the barrels for blueing the barrels are often honed to remove pits, and the exterior surfaces draw filed to remove corrosion, leaving unsafe wall thickness.

Please see
https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads/is-my-gun-safe-what-load-was-my-gun-designed-to-shoot.366087/

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Quintin Monnin on November 24, 2025, 4:58 pm, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

Again, thank you for your replies and time. I’ve been lucky a lot this year and evidently I was not this time. I am not really out any money on the swap, even if I sell this one as a junker wall hanger/parts gun. I just want a SxS for clays and evidently that is a very difficult task to accomplish.

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Drew Hause on November 24, 2025, 5:13 pm, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

My compliments on your good taste anyway Quintin

Please look over the FAQs for lots of information before buying your next Smith
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=274&club_id=43784

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Quintin Monnin on November 24, 2025, 6:09 pm, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

Thank you, I live and learn. Hopefully I will know much better next time if I get the chance.

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by John Liles on November 25, 2025, 3:14 pm, in reply to "New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

Hello Quinton, and welcome to the party!
Where are you located, we might be able to recommend a tried and trusted double gun guy to assess your gun.

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Quintin Monnin on November 26, 2025, 9:05 am, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

Hello John, I am in Summerville South Carolina. So that Charleston area.

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on November 26, 2025, 3:27 pm, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

On the doublegun forum several years ago there was a thread titled:
"hot bluing and solder joints"

I suggest you Google it.
Some extremely knowledgeable people contributed to that thread.
Their opinions and experiences are insightful and well worth reading.

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Quintin Monnin on November 26, 2025, 5:50 pm, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

I will give that forum thread a look. For now I’m mulling over a few options.
Option 1: Make as a wall hanger
Option 2: Try to sell it at a show, it was already relatively cheap in cost and so whatever loss I eat, I just have to eat. (Mistakes are expensive, is what it is).
Option 3: Send it to a gunsmith buddy of mine and have him source a barrel set that would work for what I want to do with the gun, and pour a little more money into it that I probably would not get out of it value wise, but would make it into what I really wanted out of it in the first place.

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Stanley Hackett on November 28, 2025, 4:59 pm, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

You might try Darlington Gunworks just outside of Darlington, SC. Jim Kelly died a few years ago, but his nephew is an accomplished gunsmith who now runs the shop. Ward Buffkin is usually there, and he also knows classic double guns.

Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated

Posted by Quintin Monnin on November 28, 2025, 6:32 pm, in reply to "Re: New LC Smith, Information Appreciated"

I have heard that name before from somewhere, I will have to try and check it out soon if able to. For now I am leaning towards taking it to the Greenville SC show in 3 ish weeks and seeing what happens from there.

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