doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com LC Smith ?

A photo put up by skeettx on a recent subject about LC Smith help, shoes a side view of the action & stock.
I have noticed differences in this area, both up behind the fences & also on the action bottom just under the side plate.
Some have a near vertical angle where the stock meets the action at the top while others tend to slope back.
The bigger difference is at the bottom where some are vertical at the action to stock joint while others are cut back at about 45 degrees. The one in the photo from skeettx is 90 degree vertical at the bottom.

Now, my question is; Why would there be such differences & especially that 90 degree to 45 degree at the bottom ?

Makes it more difficult to restock. A job that I am about to undertake.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e1/2b/d1/e12bd13e97c9b5b2413daf2f93eb7e48.jpg
The link is to one cut at an angle at the bottom like mine.
O.M

For Moses:



mine:

The angled lower stock finger began to be (inconsistently) phased out with the introduction of the 1913 "New Design" models, but is still present on some early 1920s guns

Pre-1913 all angled
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/15371530

1920 16g Specialty

My 1926 Specialty has the flat angle version and a regular frame:



And a much uglier duck!...Geo

Hmm, by the number on mine, At least to my reckoning 35748* R T
1919 is probably the date of manufacture.
Like the 16 shown above it is angled & out of the 1913 time frame.

Thanks for putting up those photo's skeettx.
O.M

Yes, but look at the angle at the top. And how far back from the fence that it is.
That side plate is rounded at the top as well & is a different fit again.

Featherweight frame Field grade upper. Regular frame Specialty grade lower. The Featherweight (FW) frame was introduced with the 20 gauge gun in 1907 (a No. 2 SN 1003 completed July 12, 1907), and was produced in two sizes: 12 gauge and 16/20 gauge.



Partially inlet stocks. Straight Featherweight frame top, angled Regular frame bottom

The angle at the bottom of the action will help hold the lower fingers in when the head cracks internally, which it eventually will.

Drew's answer is correct.

Needless snarkiness aside, the Smith stock design defect is understood
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17090409
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20576154

My very well used 1906 12g 00, 1906 16g 0E, and 1908 16g No. 2E do not have cracks in the head of the stock however. A 1908 16g 00E did crack the left lower stock finger.