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Probably not a good idea for this gun, but I have chamber sleeved a 16ga to 20ga, and am happy with the result.
I bought a Elsie 20 at auction that turned out to be 16 and they kept it.
If you cant return it.....

Nice

Call the auction company. I had this happen twice. Both times the auction companies offered to refund for return or keep the gun at a discount price.

Auctions are usually as is but when an item is inadvertently listed with the wrong gauge they usually step up and make it good.

They made 216 No. 0" with 26" barrels in 1901 and 1 with 24" barrels.

Nice gun, indeed!!

A Research Letter would confirm the original specifications, and possibly to where the gun was shipped
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=43784&module_id=245742

No. 0 was introduced in 1894, initially with Twist but by at least 1898 Good 2 Rod Damascus

1902 Sears catalog

Gary Downey was named in this thread. Can we hear the names of others, like "a Pennsylvania dealer" and "a rather notorious dealer"? If the stories are true, we shouldn't hear any replies from these guys disputing the stories.

Sorry Eightbore,

Didn't see your input, I am unsure if 26" original or not or if I measured correctly. I simply lowered a measuring tape in the barrels until it bottomed out and I recall a rough measurement of 26". Maybe I'll remeasure, what do you believe they should be?

Oh, I also remember measuring the muzzle bore to confirm the gauge and it was at around 20mm.

Thanks
r,
ChiefC

Hello Drew,

Thanks for the additional information albeit in your opinion not good. Cannot return, so I guess this makes it an awesome shooter. Odd though, this gun came from the estate of a prominent shooter who shot competition and knew his trade. And according to LC Smith.org site research a 1901 was not offered with Damascus barrels until 1907.

Like everything else, will await/seek alternate opinions.
Thanks again,
R,
ChiefC

Welcome to the forum, Tom. This is a good place to have lots of exposure to the vintage doublegun "community". You should put the advertisement in the Doubleguns For Sale sub-forum here, along with all of the details on the gun that you can garner. The more info you can provide the easier it will be for potential buyers to discern what you have. Chamber length, barrel length, bore diameter, choke constrictions, length of pull, drop at comb and drop at heel, butt treatment, whether fluid or pattern welded barrels, and minimum barrel wall thickness are among the things most knowledgeable potential buyers will want to know. Then, good close up pictures should be posted here. if you need some help with that some of us here will be glad to assist you.

SRH

I purchased this at auction as it was advertised as a 20 gauge and that's what I'm gravitating to now. Turned out to actually be a 16 gauge and I'm trying to find best way to market it for sale and fair price. Anyone have any recommendations. We're in Middle TN.

I am going to buy a Beretta A400 Upland 28ga with 3" chamber to use as my duck gun until my shoulder heals from rotator cuff surgery (if it ever gets back to normal). These guns all have the Xtra Wood finish, which is "real" wood, but enhanced with lasers and who knows what else. It looks good, but the finish is matte with very open pores, so I'd like to add something to the wood to make it a little easier to keep clean after days in the blind. Anyone here have experience working with the Xtra Wood? I'd like to rub something on or in without any sanding, because I don't know how deep the factory faux finsih is. Suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

He did good!
Grass isn't that tall in central MN yet.

A new pad for my Kimball/Skimin and Wood. Not too bad for an amateur. At least, I am happy with it. Another 1/2" of length, 1/2" of cast, and 1/8" of drop will probably cost some grouse their lives this year.

The original horn plate and engraved screws are saved and can be put back on anytime. A couple more of these pads and I might actually get half good at it.

My brother still lives near where we were born and raised in the midwest. I sold him a nice T. Wild 12 bore 15 years ago and he's still taking game with it. I told him I'm pretty sure he's the only one to ever use it on turkey since I bought it in England and brought it back with me.

Aaron, an absolutely outstanding and fascinating presentation. Thanks. Gene Williams

Yeah, not a field grade! The nose of the comb looks odd to me. I think that the top strap has too much bend to allow for more modern drops at comb and heel? Nice to get it going again. A neat story! I've shot a few Polywad shells. Worked fine.

Chief

A plea to the body:

Explain the possible hinge pin methods in common use for SXS shotguns. Removable, not, etc. I am familiar with tapered, driven out with or with out set screw. Threaded with slotted head. Not so much with covers or caps or irreplaceable like a Scott 700. I read somewhere of the Birmingham method, made in place and I assume not removable or replaceable.

Looking for some insight!

Thanks,

Chief

Does it state anything about solid ribs being available on Lightenings?

According to Ned Schwing's book on "The Browning Superposed", 1996, page 241, the stock dimensions for the 20 ga were changed in 1960 to D@C = 1 1/2", D@H =2 3/8" from D@C=1 5/8", D@H 2 1/2". The LOP stayed the same at 14 1/4". The post 1960 stock dimensions are much more workable for me than the earlier dimensions with more drop.

Ideally, I'd like to find an all original 1960-1965 Grade I vintage RKLT 20ga Lightening with 28" M/F choked barrels and a solid rib. I am not at all sure it was ever available in that specific configuration. It seems like they may have all been made with vent ribs???

The gun has been poorly refinished



The 'case colors' on the sideplates and action are from heating the metal with a torch and using cold blue to produce colors



The barrels, triggers and trigger guard have been blued, likely with hot caustic salts meaning the 2 barrels and ribs will, before long, separate.
The barrels are damascus and it is likely they were cut. A gunsmith could measure the length of the choke constriction to confirm, and you might see a gap between the keels and barrels at the muzzle.



We think 'SD&G' is Schoverling, Dales & Gales; a large sporting goods firm in New York City.

If you can return the gun, do it.

You do know Les passed away?

About a year ago, I stopped at a used car dealer's to look at a older Ford Ranger. It was in very good condition. And when the salesman came out to talk to me, I can't believe that he told me the story-- "It was only driven by a little old lady to church on Sundays." I thought he was kidding, so I asked him to repeat it- and he said the same phrase over again and he was dead serious. I could not believe that somebody would say such a thing when they were trying to sell a used car. 😏 But maybe it was true.🙃

Last I checked, Diamond in NY had some for sale.
They need to be fitted, tested, polished, then hardened. Then repolished.

It becomes a $500.00 job on a $300.00 shotgun that won’t cock right.

Our best Ithaca gunsmith recently passed away. Shame he was such a good one and a great person to deal with. I have been looking for someone to go over a couple Mag10’s I recently picked up. He was nit only capable of working on them but also had a small stash of parts. I have been stocking up on a few parts but l can’t find 30 years of working on them. Be nice your gunsmith ought to be a national holiday.

I am guessing the cocking hook. I have 2 I have been trying to find someone to do for a couple of years. Replacements were once available, but I can't find a source or a used one.