L.C. Smith's take a bad rap for having cracks behind the locks. Most of this is from shooting the wrong type of shells through them over the years.
In looking for a 20 ga., anything before the mid 1930's will be chambered 2 1/2", and any that might have been made in the factory with 2 3/4" chambers will have Chambered 2 3/4 Inches in an oval on barrel flat.
Guns made later in the 30's will have 2 3/4 inch chambers and will be stamped as such.
16 ga. were chambered 2 9/16" and the bores were .650. The bores in later guns were .662 and in the late 30's the chambers were also lengthened to 2 3/4" and will so be marked on barrel flat.
Stan if the gun in your picture is a 16 ga with 32" barrels you have a rare one. Not many 20's or 16's with 32" barrels out there.
David,
I am not an avid L.C.Smith collector, but knew that it was indeed very unusual, if not rare, to find a 16 ga. Field Grade that had the combination that it does, 32", HOT, and ejectors. When I found it on a table of Elsies I actually had my pick of two 16 ga. 32" Smiths, but the other one was a graded gun in high condition, and I wasn't willing to spend what it cost. Here is a pic of it full length. Sorry for the leather lace-up, but it is my favorite way to get an easy 1/2" more LOP on a classic gun.
SRH
