L.C. Smith 12 ga.

[Casey Karstens]

Here is a pic of my first double. Made in 1903 and still working around the farm.

[Brian Dudley]

Beautiful LC!

[Drew Hause]

What timing! Dr Jim, David Williamson and I will have an article "The L.C. Smith Farm Implement Grades" in the Summer DGJ and your pic would be a perfect addition. Could I use the image?
Please e-mail me at revdoc2@cox.net and I'll send you the article text.
Thanks!

[Casey Karstens]

Yes, you have my permission. I'll email you.

[Casey Karstens]

Drew,
I have spent some time reading your website, and it appears you have considerable knowledge of Damascus barrels. Do you know offhand what type and quality are used on my L.C. Smith? I have read several articles on strength of Damascus and pressure of black vs. smokeless, and have always shot this gun with standard low base shells. I hope I am right in this.

[Drew Hause]

Casey: It looks to be a No.0 with "Good Two Rod Damascus"

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17126410/409208886.jpg

No one on the internet can tell if a gun is safe, but there is lots of information here
http://docs.google.com/a/damascusknowledge.com/document/d/1LFnSG34k3mBhLEjEgU267wAlIa215MNVQZhIiY62Hx4/edit

Please be aware that 'Low base' and 'Field load' in no way assures that the shell has low pressure.

Very soon I hope to publish a series of articles which will include a cascade of evaluations for any vintage double, pattern welded or fluid steel, starting with visual inspection and ending with proof testing.

[Bill Murphy]

That is one screaming 0 Grade.

[charlie cleveland]

it sure is a nice gun for sure...charlie

[Steve McCarty]

People who study such things know that damascus and fluid steel barrels are about equally strong, if the guns were made by reputable makers, Parker, Remington, L.C. Smith, Lefever and others, not to mention the myriads of quality English guns.

Of course barrels of all kinds can be of lessor quality or poorly cared for and can fail. Most healthy barrels that let go, do so because of an obstruction in the bore...a patch, wad, etc...

Sherman Bell took healthy damascus guns that were not of collector quality and loaded them to failure. He was astounded by how much psi the damascus barrels would take...about three times over maximum proof loads (Remington proof loads produce 18,000 lbs psi). Hand welded (damascus) barrels in good condition are strong. For safety's sake they should only be shot with shells that produce pressures they were made for. Standard medium and low PSI shells should be safe. I shoot them in my Parker and Smith.

Any shotgun barrel can let go, from a new one to one a century old. In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, shooters considered damascus barrels superior and paid a premium for them. They weren't stupid.

The myth of damascus barrels being weak came from people using BP reloading tools to reload faster burning smokeless powders (again, according to Sherman Bell). Using BP measures to load smokeless shells sometimes produced a shell that produced 80,000 PSI...Most shells produce from 8 to 12,000 PSI.

[Steve McCarty]

I will overlook a liquid steel gun if there is a damascus gun also for sale. The damascus, handwelded barrels are beautiful and if in good condition plenty strong. I understand Greener is making them today...maybe Purdey too. Is that so?

One of the prettiest shotguns that I have ever seen is a Winchester 97 with a damascus barrel. I like all damascus barreled guns.