L. C. Smith Mechanical Problem

[Dennis V. Nix]

I recently discovered a problem (of my own making) with my L. C. Smith hammerless shotgun circa 1886. I took it apart to clean it and pulled the triggers while it was apart. Now I am unable to get it back together because I can't fit the forend onto the barreled receiver. The barrels go on easily but there are two pins sticking out the front of the receiver. These pins fit into a recess of the forend but they don't seem to be in a position to allow them to go into the recess. They seem to need to be cocked in some manner. Can anyone offer some assistance? Yes I know, what a stupid question for double gun experts such as we have on the PGCA forum. Hopefully I can download a couple of photos to demonstrate what I am talking about.

I appreciate any help,

Dennis

[Rick Losey]

not a Smith guy - but have heard of the issue

this is on the Smith board

http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/hammerdisassem.html

[Robert Rambler]

Look here :

http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/hammerdisassem.html

And here :

http://www.lcsmith.org/tool.html

[charlie cleveland]

just take a pair of vise grips or aajustable wrench small and cock the hammers..you never want to drop the hammers on a lc smith when removing the barrels unless you want to recock it each time.... charlie

[Frank Cronin]

http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/hammerdisassem.html

I wouldn't use vise grips though. I have used methods two and three on the link I posted.

[Brian Dudley]

You just need to re cock the hammers. There is a special tool that can be purchased for this job. But I have always just used a flat head screw driver. The first one is easier I coco this way than the second, but you can do it without too much trouble. Put it In between the cocking came and lift up on one using the other as the leverage point. Lift up until the hammer clicks as cocked. Then repeat for the other side.

[Joe Dreisch]

Dennis,
Go to the Smith collector website.

http://lcsmith.org/

Scroll down the right hand side of the homepage and click on LC Smith tool. It is made of stainless steel and is well finished for $10. Can't beat it.

Joe

[Dennis V. Nix]

Gentlemen I thank you one and all. After seeing the referred to site I remembered seeing it before. I was able to recock the hammers. Very easily done. I think I possibly purchased one of the specific L. C. Smith tools a couple of years ago and put it aside for the possibility I might need it one day. If I did I can't find it now. At any rate I may buy another one just in case. Again I thank you all. I knew I would get help from the experts on this forum.

Dennis

[todd allen]

The first one is easier I coco this way than the second, but you can do it without too much trouble. Put it In between the cocking came and lift up on one using the other as the leverage point. Lift up until the hammer clicks as cocked. Then repeat for the other side.

That's how I've always done it.
I'd bet there have been a lot of inherited LC Smiths, over the years, sold off real cheap, or given away due to this issue.