Thanks for sharing this- a friend owns a 1910 vintage AH Fox 12 ga. AE Grade- 30" barrels and he had the chambers lengthened to 3" and the chokes opened to Imp. Cyl. and Mod. and has used 1 & 1/8 oz. steel loads in it- no damage at all--Many older Fox and Parker 12 bores had 2 & 5/8" chambers, LC Smith almost from the "get go" had 2 & 3/4" in their 12 gauges. You might consider having Buck Hamlin or another good "Smith-Smith" epoxy the stock head and smooth the bevel on the edges of both sideplates. I shoot my Smiths a great deal, but I only use light loads, except in the Live Bird gun (32" Ventilated rib- R Frame DT Ejectors) I use 1 & 1/4 oz. express or heavy Live Pigeon plated shot loads in that in the left barrel- Also, if you are new to Smiths- always open and recock the gun before you remove the forearm and barrels- I use A-zoom snap caps in mine and if they will be on "R and R" in the gun safe for a while, let down the hammers.
