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04-18-2014, 08:58 AM | #3 | ||||||
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his gun defies it ever having been made as a "Trap" gun even though it is clearly stamped "TRAP" on the top of the barrel.
It has 26" open choked barrels (very little choke judging by the wall thickness at the muzzles) and is a 20 gauge. It has a very clear depiction of a skeet shooting squad on the left lock plate. I'll be going back to the shop today to take better pictures of it. |
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04-18-2014, 10:30 AM | #4 | ||||||
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In the book " L C Smith ,The Legend Lives " ,it states on Page 254 about the barrels on a TRAP Grade ,The barrels were made by hunter Arms Co. by Sanderson Steel ,Syracuse NY. and stamped on the underside with the famous " Crown Steel " trademark . The Breech end of the barrels had a small amount of engraving adding to the attractive appearence of the gun !The Barrel was roll stamped ,Hunter Arms Co. ,M'F'R's Fulton ,NY. USA . If the small amount of engraving on the Breech end is miossing Dean ,possibly the Barrels have been cut ???? Just a Thought, Hopes this helps ! The section on Skeet Guns is too much to type ,if interested ,give me a call and I will be more than happy to read it to you ! Best ; Russ
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04-18-2014, 10:32 AM | #5 | ||||||
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Dean, Scan's of Brophy's book pages 116 and 117 Hope this helps.
__________________
"Much care is bestowed to make it what the Sportsman needs-a good gun"-Charles Parker |
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04-18-2014, 10:38 AM | #6 | ||||||
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When the new "name" grades were introduced in 1913, one of the grades was the "Trap Grade", between the "Ideal" and "Specialty" grades. What Dean is describing is a "Trap Grade" gun. According to Houchins there were 356 20-gauge "Trap Grades" produced. By the late 1920s, I'm sure L.C. Smith guns of every grade were being ordered configured as skeet guns. Hunter Arms Co. introduced a gun called the L.C. Smith Skeet Special in 1929. It had a skeet logo on the right lock plate and a bird in flight on the left with a few flourishes at the corners of the plates. The L.C. Smith Skeet Special was offered through 1944. In the last couple of years, 1949-1950, they offered a bit fancier L.C. Smith Premier Skeet Gun. These are the ones to watch out for as many unfinished guns and parts were sold off and assembled/finished by who knows who.
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04-18-2014, 12:31 PM | #7 | ||||||
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I went back to the gun shop and took some better pictures of the gun. Terrible lighting in the shop... the only pictures that came out well were the ones I took with a flash.
The border engraving at the breech end of the barrels is quite apparent and the muzzles appear to be uncut. I finally understand that the L.C. Smith Trap Model is actually the grade and not necessarily the type of shooting that gun was intended to be used for. Also, in looking closer at the engraving on the left lock plate the shooters are shooting trap and rather than being in a squad are actually at the ready in their positions at the line and the little house in the distance is more likely the trap house. Nonetheless, it is a very nice little twenty that would be ideal for skeet and upland birds. . |
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04-18-2014, 12:37 PM | #8 | ||||||
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Researcher has covered the subject very well...
Dean, I would be taking a very hard look at the ends of those barrels again, especially on a "Trap Grade" 20ga. With a little bit of choke, I would not be surprised to find they have been cut. Back in the day, turning long barreled tight choked guns into short barreled Skeet and open choked Grouse/Quail guns was more common than some people might think. Especially if the barrel ends had been damaged at some point... If the serial number is in the books, there is a possibility original barrel length could be confirmed. Best, CSL ___________________________ |
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04-18-2014, 12:53 PM | #9 | ||||||
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Thanks Chris, I understand all that about cut barrels on old guns and the reasons so many were cut
The serial number is in plain view there on the water table. Who can I ask about verifying the original barrel length? Dean |
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04-18-2014, 12:57 PM | #10 | ||||||
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Dean, Check your PM's.
CSL __________________ |
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