I shouldn't but I will. First thing JR could have read on the left side where my information is and my name, mistake on his part no big deal. Second, I referred to the Syracuse L.C. Smith's which I do believe were made better than the Fulton L.C. Smith's. As as example the Quality 2 Syracuse L.C. Smith was listed at $80.00 in an 1888 catalog, quite a sum of money back then. The very early Fultons from 1889 to the early 1900's were built using the same attributes of the Syracuse guns, but later changes had to be made because of forging and machining costs but the prices were still lower than Syracuse.
As to why L.C. Smith's fire easily when dropped or banged, it is of my opinion that because they are true side lock guns the sears are very close to the trigger plate and could be prone to discharge, although I have never heard of one doing so.
The first grades made in Fulton were the No 1 and No 2. the No 1 was Fulton's design and the No 2 was very close to the Quality 2 of Syracuse. In 1891 Hunter Arms Co. came out with the No.2 gun. There were 4 variations and in my opinion again, the first variation was the nicest Fulton gun ever made, it featured a rebated lock and the stock was also rebated where the locks were. The locks on one side had two English settera and the right had two pointers. The rebated locks were similar to the Syracuse Quality 7 and some Quality 6's. The dog engravings were most likely done by A.E. Spangler who also did the dog and birds on the Syracuse guns and transferred to Fulton and worked for Hunter Arms Co. Jacob Glahn and his sons also came for Syracuse to Fulton and was a top notch engraver.
The only gun that I know of that has Spangler's name on the lock plate is an Qptimus Grade Lefever gifted to then-President Benjamin Harrison.
I could go on but enough is enough. The Hunter Arms Co. box locks were another good double that is now coming into it's own shown by auction prices.
