Well Ted;
As I do not currently even own an L C Smith, nor have no real desire to do so the point is not really worth arguing. I will just say though that you are now adding in criteria which was not in the original post to which I responded.

What I responded to was given as "Proof" that Smiths were essentially Worthless Junk as some competent gunsmiths refused to work on them
My solution in this circumstance would still be "Find Another Smith" & with an attitude like that he would not get a Crescant or a Purdey of mine to work on.

Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra