Rescuing a Pigeon

[Brad Bachelder]

L. C. Smith 1902 pigeon Grade 12 bore.

Brad

[Mark Ouellette]

A Pigeon Grade LC Smith with Chain Damascus barrels. I am in serious wanting... :bowdown:

[Robert Rambler]

Those barrels are beautiful,and the rib repair is four star all the way.Excellent job Brad!!:cool::cool:

[chris dawe]

Oh my ,Oh my!

[wayne goerres]

Who did the barrels. They are goerges.

[Brad Bachelder]

Interesting story behind the barrels. When I hit them with the torch the ensuing fire told me that they had been epoxied. When the epoxy burned off it was followed by a flow of about 1/2 pound of soft solder. The bottom rib dropped away but the top rib did not move much. Someone had screwed the rib to the forearm lug. The rib was welded in three spots. The top rib was not usable. I replaced it with a salvage rib from a speciality grade set.
Suprisingly the bores we in great shape after all this prior abuse. No irreversible damage to the damascus.

[Drew Hause]

Dr Jim's review of the Smith Pigeon production was published in the 2011 Double Gun Journal Volume 22, Issue 2, Page 110. Unfortunately, the remaining shipping records did not include barrel type. The first run of 10 guns was in May 1893 with the new Crown steel. Nitro steel was introduced in 1898. Hunter Arms "Chainette" was an option, and there are reports of Pigeons with Whitworth barrels.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17127707/394375862.jpg

[George M. Purtill]

Great stuff Brad

[allen newell]

Very nice Brad. Can't wait to see mine!

[Dean Romig]

Nice outcome of the barrels Brad. Too bad you couldn't reproduce the rib legend.

A unique Elsie that demanded restoration - nice work!

[ed good]

a thang of beauty!

[Eldon Goddard]

Do they epoxy the barrels to give it a certain look or to preserve it from rust?

[E Robert Fabian]

I think they used the epoxy to make a poor attempt to fix the loose rib.

[Eldon Goddard]

I misunderstood. It makes sense that they would attempt to poorly fix a loose rib with epoxy.

[Brad Bachelder]

If I owned the gun it would have the original inscription. The engraving was not in the customers budget. Think about the confusion it will cause fifty years from now.

Brad

[Tom Will]

That looks beautiful, there is just something about the LC Smith engravings that appeals to the eyes, nice job for sure

[Grantham Forester]

What really makes this thread so outstanding is the before and after photos-

[Michael Murphy]

Terrific job. I envy the owner.

[Frank Cronin]

Brad, Incredible work. I thought what you did to restore my pitted Damascus barrels to my Syracuse Quality 3 was amazing. You outdid yourself once again... :bowdown:

[Randy klyn]

Parker Guns, I am the owner of this gun and have done nothing with it since Brad restored it. Logic dictates I should research/document the history of this beautiful piece of history, maybe even pursue an appraisal?
Shame on me, the gun has never left the house which implies I haven't even shot it yet!
What a waste, it sits in my climate controlled safe and once a year I take it out and wipe it down:)
Looking for suggestions of how best to proceed. Thanks in advance.....RK

[charlie cleveland]

take it hunting and enjoy it or sell it to some one who will hunt it....nice gun for sure....charlie

[Randy klyn]

charlie, valid point, seems a shame......Thanks for your note...

[allen newell]

If you don't belong to a shooting club that has trap and/ or skeet then join one. And take the gun out and shoot it. It's meant to be shot and not remain in the safe

[Randy klyn]

Thanks BrdHntr, Agree. Funny, got the gun out tonight and can't seem to put it back in the safe, been staring at it(LOL). thanks again..

[Randy klyn]

Thinking about parting with this beauty. Best place to have it appraised? Thanks in advance....

[Ronald A Moore]

Randy, if you wish to sell gun I would be interested it, please advise what you want for gun. I am a gunsmith and a collector of Smiths and Parkers. I have FFL also.



Ron

Rons Custom Guns
505-980-6018

[charlie cleveland]

randy take this beautiful gun out and get a box of low pressure shells and take her hunting or maybe just shoot some paper targets or tin cans like i do....enjoy this gun....charlie

[Randy klyn]

Thank you for your note. Any suggestions on determining it's value would be appreciated. As far as your interest, thanks again and noted....