A Smith Family Shoot

[Chris Robenalt]

The trigger finger was getting itchy, so I decided to beat the heat and join the Smith family for an early morning shoot. With "Opening Day" so close, I thought it best to check out the flights, get dialed in, and decide which gun I'll start the season with. Happy shooting and good luck boys!

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Chris Robenalt

The trigger finger was getting itchy, so I decided to beat the heat and join the Smith family for an early morning shoot. With "Opening Day" so close, I thought it best to check out the flights, get dialed in, and decide which gun I'll start the season with. Happy shooting and good luck boys!

Is the bottom one a ideal grade ? Ive been eyeing a L.C Smith recently .

[Chris Robenalt]

Yes, the bottom is an Ideal ejector, 28". The top is a 3- 30", the middle is a 2E-28". If you click on the pic it should show better detail.
Chris

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Chris Robenalt

Yes, the bottom is an Ideal ejector, 28". The top is a 3- 30", the middle is a 2E-28". If you click on the pic it should show better detail.
Chris

I really like the Ideal grade , I was wonder from a Smith I have been looking at the numbers stamped on the underside of the barrels is that the weight like how its marked on a Parker ?

[Chris Robenalt]

Without looking I cant say. I'm not an authority on Smiths. Yes, the Ideal is nice. I favor the regular frame Smiths myself. I shoot that 3E well, I need to grind a vintage pad for it. I do have a friend that has a nice Ideal if you're interested. It's much nicer than mine.

[double barrel]

Smith guns do not have the weight of barrels stamped on them like the Parkers do. Nice trio.
Ken

[Drew Hause]

Milton: it is not unusual to find the pre-fit & finish barrel weight on pre-1913 Smiths, but not uniform; 'C' is likely Crucible Steel, '4 over 7' (4# 7oz.), and 'W&R' which was likely an importer of the "rough forged tubes".

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Drew Hause

Milton: it is not unusual to find the pre-fit & finish barrel weight on pre-1913 Smiths, but not uniform; 'C' is likely Crucible Steel, '4 over 7' (4# 7oz.), and 'W&R' which was likely an importer of the "rough forged tubes".

The one im looking at is a 1917 vintage and is stamped 5 8 and looks to say BD , its a 10 ga Smith .

[Drew Hause]

Are the barrels damascus? What is the grade? Are you sure of the DOM?
'BD' if a commonly found mark on pre-1913 No. 0 guns, and possibly that of Bauduin Doyen, a Nessonvaux damascus barrel and gun maker. They became part of the Syndicat des Fabricants de canons de fusils de la Vesdre in 1907.
'WR' was probably William Read & Sons, Boston

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Drew Hause

Are the barrels damascus? What is the grade? Are you sure of the DOM?
'BD' if a commonly found mark on pre-1913 No. 0 guns, and possibly that of Bauduin Doyen, a Nessonvaux damascus barrel and gun maker. They became part of the Syndicat des Fabricants de canons de fusils de la Vesdre in 1907.
'WR' was probably William Read & Sons, Boston

Yes its a damascus ideal grade 10 gauge , from what ive read damascus was a special order option .
Thanks for the helpful reply Mr.Drew , I know hardly anything about Smiths but its always interesting to learn more about American doubles .