The grade stamp "4E" has been overstamped atop another grade stamp that appears to be "OO". That would be the first aspect of this gun that would give me suspicion that those barrels are a replacement; as an "OO" stamp represents the lowest pre-1913 catalog grade designation for a Smith gun. This over-stamp, and the gap around the rib extension atop the standing breech would lead me to indicate those barrels are certainly a replacement; and maybe after-market. Grade 4 barrels should have Hunter's "Nitro Steel" trademark stamp just ahead of the barrel flats on each tube; and those are missing? As to the flat rib, flat ribs are most common to later vintage Smith guns, but were also fitted by the factory to earlier period guns; and when done to an early vintage gun, the gunworks used a modified or "ramped" short rib to bring/raise the eye from the lower standing breech to the higher barrel rib (the same principal Hunter used with vent rib guns). Although most of the brains here will take issue with my/observations, let me also add that I've seen many L.C. Smith guns with barrels replaced by the gunworks using a lower grade of barrel steel than was cataloged for that grade; as well as factory fitted second barrel sets using barrel tubes of lower grade. The owners elected to use that option because it was a heck of a lot cheaper to go that route (new/replacement barrels were typically priced at 50% of the retail price of that grade gun). I've also seen two examples whereby a set of Syracuse era barrels were re-used as the basis for a new Smith gun so that, other than the barrels, an entirely new gun was fabricated (one into a Grade 2E 10-bore and the other into a Grade O 10-bore). In both cases the gunworks overstamped the original Syracuse quality grade designation on the barrels with the appropriate pre-1912 grade stamp placed on the water table. So although there is a remote possibility that Hunter Arms may have done a similar barrel replacement on this gun, I don't see Hunter leaving a the ill-fitting gap we see at rib joint. Now on the other hand, if those barrels were replaced by the Marlin service department AFTER Marlin closed the gunworks, one can expect to see less than Hunter Arms quality in the repair work itself; and on the two sets of Smith barrels that I know went to/came from the Marlin service department for work, both feature a "JM" stamp in an oval on the left side of the barrel lug (this lug area not pictured). This gun is rare and a great shooter, but if I were buying the gun; I'd have to judge the gun as a shooter with aftermarket replacement barrels UNLESS the owner can show documentation that these modification were done at the gunworks.
One more thought, the forend escutcheon on this gun should be the "banjo" style; as the oval style was used on later vintage Smith guns. Also, graded later vintage small bore Smith guns fitted with splinters often featured wood a bit "proud" around the knuckle of the iron as we see with this example; while wood was fitted flush on early vintage small bores (see the DGJ article entitled The Salesman Sample). This is perhaps another indication that, if this barrel work was done at the gunworks, it was done late in production and must have also included a forearm? This gun is likely to generate more questions than answers, but those are my thoughts; and good luck. Tom
PS: Just enlarged the serial number stamp on the barrel flats; that number has also been over-stamped atop another serial number.
Last edited by topgun; 08/24/12 04:41 PM.
