Worth restoring LC Smith Field? - 05/19/20 05:06 AM
Hello,
My LGS has an LC Smith Field that requires some soldering to make it work right.
I am not sure if the problems end there, but they begin there.
I am not sure of the exact terminology, but the 'lump' that is soldered under the barrels, to the space between the barrels, and that serves as the leverage point for the forearm spring to 'snap' into place- well, that piece has popped off the one they have.
The forend just kind of sits there, when the LC is vertical. Or falls off if horizontal.
I looked at it and there is about an 8" piece of rib that fills the gap between the barrels, that begins at the flat water table area of the barrels where the ejector rods sit, and extends to the leverage block that is used to pull the forend into place: and it just falls into the hand as one piece- from that raised lump all the way to the flat base area at the chambers.
I don't have pics, and can't really justify going into a gun shop to take pics of a shotgun I am not buying, search the internet for solutions, and then go back. Maybe it is ok to do so, but I am hesitant to- as it feels 'wrong' to me.
So, my question: is there a ballpark amount I could expect to have that 8-10" section re-soldered into place, so that the shotgun becomes usable?
The price on the shotgun is low- but I don't want to buy it and find I should have just walked away to buy another one. And I already have a Field LC Smith in good shape- so I don't need another of the same- unless the repaired shotgun is still a notable savings over what I paid for my 'first' LC.
However, I also do like restoring things to full function- if I can at least break even.
So- anyone have any ideas of cost, and/or suggestion of whom to contact for something like this? Please share- either in post or message me.
My LGS has an LC Smith Field that requires some soldering to make it work right.
I am not sure if the problems end there, but they begin there.
I am not sure of the exact terminology, but the 'lump' that is soldered under the barrels, to the space between the barrels, and that serves as the leverage point for the forearm spring to 'snap' into place- well, that piece has popped off the one they have.
The forend just kind of sits there, when the LC is vertical. Or falls off if horizontal.
I looked at it and there is about an 8" piece of rib that fills the gap between the barrels, that begins at the flat water table area of the barrels where the ejector rods sit, and extends to the leverage block that is used to pull the forend into place: and it just falls into the hand as one piece- from that raised lump all the way to the flat base area at the chambers.
I don't have pics, and can't really justify going into a gun shop to take pics of a shotgun I am not buying, search the internet for solutions, and then go back. Maybe it is ok to do so, but I am hesitant to- as it feels 'wrong' to me.
So, my question: is there a ballpark amount I could expect to have that 8-10" section re-soldered into place, so that the shotgun becomes usable?
The price on the shotgun is low- but I don't want to buy it and find I should have just walked away to buy another one. And I already have a Field LC Smith in good shape- so I don't need another of the same- unless the repaired shotgun is still a notable savings over what I paid for my 'first' LC.
However, I also do like restoring things to full function- if I can at least break even.
So- anyone have any ideas of cost, and/or suggestion of whom to contact for something like this? Please share- either in post or message me.