doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Guns in their original boxes

damn, looks like its only had a box thru it and the stock is cracked at the sideplate on the right side already.

DevRep,

Your right, there is a crack right behind the appex of the right sidelock plate. As most everyone knows this is probably the most common "injury" our beloved Elsies endure. As it was explained to me by the man who inspected this beauty after I bought it that the U shaped channel in the stock that the lever bolt goes down through is often times paper thin. It should also be noted that L.C. Smiths guns did not recieve any finish on the inletted portions of the stock, i.e. bare wood. So, any oil that was shot through the firing pin holes would thus penetrate raw wood and made an already fragile area that much more weak.

Once that U shaped channel cracks which we can call the 1st phase(if paper thin on some guns, would't take much shooting at all) the next phase of injury as I will call it is a crack behind one of the appex's of the sidelock plates. If left in this condition and the gun was still in service the next phase to crack was behind the top tang. THEN, the final blow, was that the crack behind the sidelock plate and the crack behind the top tang would then meet up somewhere back in the stock and then you pretty well have a major problem

The "evolution" of the crack process was explained to me in great detail by Dr. Bill Hambidge, whom was the one who took this gun apart and inspected it. Of course other things can and do occur and thus various cracks and other damage can occur for different reasons. If I made a mistake in the explaination of the cracking evolution on L.C. Smiths, it was my fault, as I am going by memory from what Bill explained to me that he has learned through out the years of him fixing this very problem.

It is a shame the gun has this situation, but it's been corrected and the damage will not go further. The gun (other than this issue) is in fine shape and I was and still am tickled to own it.

JDW,

As far as the degree of difficulty in switching barrels with the selective Hunter One trigger, it is very difficult for me at least! I do not have much feeling in my hands anyway when it pertains to trying to find that little switch so nicely tucked up in there by the trigger! Some I am sure have no issue with it, but I have found it is difficult for me to operate in a quick and timely fashion.

The front position trigger is a neat touch. I haven't seen many of those. One was in a shop where I worked, a Whitworth barrelled Grade 5 ten gauge very professionally restocked in light English walnut. I wonder where that gun is today? What a shotgun.

Bill,

Funny you mentioned the front position trigger. I too havent' seen many of those, but that isn't saying much on my part. Of all the Hunter Selective one triggers I have seen or handled, this is the first with the front mounted trigger I have seen. It is also the first checkered trigger I have personally seen on a L.C. Smith as they were an option which was usually only found on the very highest grades, i.e. Monogram, Premiere, Deluxe, thought they were available on any grade gun if you wanted to buy it.

Jason H.

Just now getting back to you this evening as it is Oktoberfest here in Cullman, Alabama. Forgive my transgression in not being able to distinguish between the FWS and FWE. The confusion began at a show, a guy made me a "deal" of a Gustloff Werke 12 bore and a FWS LC in 16 bore. The FWS had a fracture along the coupler and I purchased another but haven't reassembled it. Then recently, I spied a FWE, which was an eye catcher in that I haven't seen a field grade, ejector, 2 barrel set. The ole Lady is a utility field grade, double trigger, 2 barrel set with 26" and 30" tubes, I think. She hasn't had a friend in some time and has digested probably a semi-trailer of shotshells, probably heavy loads. The lower rib was loose and missing from the forend latch to the barrel flats on the 26" tubes. And the ejector rods were missing the guide rods and that is what I have been attempting to find or have machined. At the Vintagers' event, I was across from the L.C. Smith group and decided to get an application and learn more. On first glance, I just assumed(antithesis of exactitude)that she was one of the later models. I'd be happy to give additional info, but she is a bare bones girl.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Very nice treasure. Interesting to me is why a "trap grade" gun was made at 6 lb. 13 oz. and with IC and Mod. chokes. Did "trap grade" merely indicate the grade and not the intended game the gun was built for?

Jim,

The designation "Trap Grade" was just that, a grade. It did not denote this gun as being a true trap gun. It just so happens that the research project I mentioned above in a previous post is indeed about true Trap guns.

L.C. Smith offered in late 1919/early 1921 a "double barrel trap package". It is this trap package I am researching. It is a theory that in the factory ledgers the letter "T" written in the type column of the ledger stood for Double barrel trap package. It is in this type column that options were indicated for that particular gun. For example, a gun with a Regular Frame, Ejectors and selective Hunter One trigger would have the following letters in the type column, REO.

In my research, I am trying to find out if indeed the letter "T" stands for double barrel trap package. It is ONLY found on guns produced from late 1919 through 1925. None have been found before or after this date to have the "T" in the ledger. These dates are important as this is the exact time frame the trap package was first offered, and then when it was dropped as a special option.

I am hoping by mid to late November my project will be done and I can then share the results with those who are interested. To back this research up with facts, I am obtaining all info related to EVERY single L.C. Smith made with the letter "T" in the ledger entry via Cody records. I hope to be able to either prove or disprove the theory on the "T" designation, but I must admit, that goal may not be achieved but I am making every effort to accurately document my findings backed up with actual historical data.

Raimey,

Thanks for replying about your L.C. Smith. As my reply to Jim Legg stated, the reason for me asking about your gun is about the research I am doing on L.C. Smith Double barrel trap package guns. I am in need of more info and would like to hear from anyone whom has a L.C. Smith that dates from say 1919 through 1925 that HAS a selective Hunter One trigger and a regular frame. It might also be said that said guns would have a Beavertail forend that is both wider and larger than a normal beavertail from this time period would have.

If anyone has such a gun with this kind of configuration, please contact me. My email is in my profile and I would sure like to hear from you.

Sounds like you need to take her out and shoot her.