LC Smith 16 Gauge Hammer Gun....

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I've got a question for the group. How rare are LC Smith 16 gauge hammer guns in field grade? I tried to post this over on the LC Smith page but for some reason the moderators in their infinite wisdom deleted it.

I've probably seen 25 or 30 Parker 16 gauge hammer guns at various shops, shooting venues, and online for sale over the years. I can recall seeing exactly two LC Smiths in 16 gauge hammer ever.

I've got one that I've had forever, well worn, but very solid and shootable. I'm just curious about it's scarcity. Maybe I've just never looked very hard and they're out there by the hundreds.....

DLH

[Rick Losey]

Fulton (Hunter) not Syracuse?

the production data in the "Legend Lives" book does not break the hammer guns down by gauge-

[Destry L. Hoffard]

LC Smith hammer gun, not a Fulton. Did they even make hammer guns under the Fulton name?

[Drew Hause]

How confusing is this Destry?

Please DO NOT POST if you are seeking the VALUE of your L.C. Smith. Instead, visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and read "What is my L.C. Smith worth?".
(Because most are hidden sale offers)

And this?

"Please read before posting - FULL NAME required"

Don't take much "infinite wisdom" to read the header on the Forum
http://members.boardhost.com/lcsmith/

IF you have a L.C. Smith F (or later H) grade (not Field) hammer gun - 3,983 were manufactured.

IF you have a Gladiator Field hammer gun for Sears - 114 were manufactured; all 30" barrels.

There were no Hunter Arms Fulton boxlock hammer guns

[Jerry VanHorn]

I have a nice LC 16 hammer. According to Mike Harris at the L. C. Smith Collectors..it was the 33rd one that they have info on. I had another later gun with steel barrels that I sold years ago..I don't think there is a list by gauge..

[Rick Losey]

LC Smith hammer gun, not a Fulton. Did they even make hammer guns under the Fulton name?

i was not referring to the Fulton box lock

the Hunter Brothers bought out LC Smith and moved production from Syracuse to Fulton - so Elsies were made in both places

[Drew Hause]

Jerry: Dr. Jim's "L.C. Smith Production Records" p. 88-91

[charlie cleveland]

i have watched the gun sales on the internet for several years i only seen one 16 ga hammer gun for sale...so either people like them and never sale them or they are pretty rare...charlie

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I'm with you there Charlie, I've seen one other in my whole life.

[Jerry VanHorn]

Drew... I don't have the book. Does it give a production figure ?.......I was not using the 33 as a production figure...just the ones that the LC Club has been told of by members...Jerry.

[Jerry VanHorn]

From 1894 to 1934...4100 16 ga. hammer guns were made..And..ONE Eagle grade..That's all the info. the LC Club has..

[Mills Morrison]

4100 doesn't sound all that rare. I wonder why not more are seen?

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I wonder that too Mills, very interesting.

[Jerry VanHorn]

I thought that sounded like a lot too. I went back and checked..4100 is what Drew H. posted ! Way more than Parker 16 hammer guns..

[Destry L. Hoffard]

That number cant be correct unless a lot of them are in deep hiding.

[John Liles]

While certainly any single record might be in error, the records referred to are a compilation from all of the individual surviving records form the factory. Pretty unlikely that there's any significant disparity between the "REAL" number of 16 ga hammer gun and the number of examples extracted from the records.
I'll say this, they are out there, but they don't come up for sale often. When they do show up for sale, they are often "rode hard and put up wet". I picked up one on the cheap a few years back on one of the auction sites. The stock was covered entirely in what appeared to be a lace-on elephant scrotum, leaving no view of what lay beneath, and the 28" twist steel barrels looked pretty dodgy. When the gun arrived it was with great trepidation that I cut the laces and removed the elephant scrotum. The original stock beneath was without a single defect. I had the barrels refinished by one of our trusted sources, and the wood refinished by another. The gun is beautiful, and it turns out that she's only one of a handful of 28" twist steel 16 ga hammer guns ever produced by LC Smith. She's choked full and tight mod, and a real pleasure to shoot. I've been offered many times what I've got in her, but she's Alyssa's chosen hammer gun, and I suspect it might be a while before I get another shot at one.
I'd guess that Destry's comment that folks just hold on to them is probably the ticket, as it seems that a decent number of the guns were produced.

[Jerry VanHorn]

John..My 16 is a 28" twist barrel gun too. I bought it from a friend who inherited a bunch of guns..and was not a gun guy. The barrels and stock are both 90%..and the gun is at Jerry Andrews now for color. The steel barrel gun was in a pawn shop in Miami. Those are 2 of the 3 that I have ever seen for sale. Mine is in a vintage 2 gun case with my Parker 16 hammer..j...

[Destry L. Hoffard]

All very interesting info, I appreciate the responses. Mine is a 28 inch pistol grip with damascus barrels. Well worn but very solid, with some cleaning I think it would be pretty presentable. Has the standard low drop at heel so it wouldn't suit me well for a smallbore duck gun. I might give it a try on squirrels, or I might sell it, or I might just leave it in the safe with all my other guns I never shoot....

Every notice that? You have all these damn guns but you only ever get around to shooting maybe three or four of them.

[Mills Morrison]

4100 is a lot in the double gun world. I think John Liles is right though. Folks just hold on to them. I keep meaning to add an LC Smith hammer gun to my collection and one day it will happen.

I got a long range this year, so the biggest goal on the LC Smith column is met

[Mark Ray]

4100 is a lot in the double gun world. I think John Liles is right though. Folks just hold on to them. I keep meaning to add an LC Smith hammer gun to my collection and one day it will happen.

I got a long range this year, so the biggest goal on the LC Smith column is met

Discussions like this usually are forbearers of bad decisions on my part!!

[John Liles]

Jerry,
28” twist makes it a pretty scarce gun, and it sounds like you’ve got her shack’n up with some pretty good company!
Destry’s right, if it weren’t for the Southern and a couple of other multi-gauge competitions, I’d only ever shoot maybe one 12 ga hammerless, one 12 gauge hammer gun, and one 20 gauge for the doves and my new found fun, quail!

[Jerry VanHorn]

The Parker hammer will be restored to match..I'll be the first to admit that I usually get carried away with these projects !.....After that is an English J.W. Laird top lever 20 hammer.. Bores are iffy..so may be a tubed 28 ..