L C Smiths can, & do, get loose the same as any other break open gun. Usual cause is a lot of open/close cycles without lubricant on the hinge. The rotary bolts on most "Elsies" are not fitted up the way Alexander Brown designed them to not only hold the barrels down against the frame, but also to hold the breech up against the barrels.
I have only tried this on one Lefever but I acquired a :Parts" H grade some years back in very poor overall condition showing much abuse. The trigger plate screw had been replaced with one too long which prevented the cocking hook from seating thus the barrels would not close enough to latch up. Someone at some point had tried to "Correct" this by backing off the ball hinge screw till they got it loose enough it would bolt. Although still not a shooter I did shorten the plate screw & set the hinge back up properly & in the process noted that with the hinge screw completely out of the gun the Doll's Head drew breech to barrel so that it was tight & the top lever stopping at about the same point as with the hinge installed. In spite of all its other faults the Doll's Head was properly fitted & still working properly on this one.
