Nickel plated LC Smiths-Ithacas

[Old and Reliable]

I found privately a 12 ga. LC Smith Skeet special- fully optioned- HOT, AE, 28" ventilated rib- R frame marked E- Not a FW- Owner says it was special ordered in 1930- with the nickel plated locks and receiver- BUT-- The locks show some minor pitting under the plating, makes me think it was really color case hardened, got rusty, was plated later on--

Might be for sale- I checked it with A-Zoom snap caps, HOT fine, ejectors snappy- But I want to test fire it with skeet loads to fulyy check trigger function- NO mars on breech face fromejector/extractor "drag"- 99% wood finish with PH capped and Jostam red antiflinch recoil pad well installed- 14 & 14" LOP and SST is in the middle position- front yellow ivory bead and smaller ivory bead on mid-rib- Beavertail has the reinforcing lug and screw and the London (Ideal Grade?) steel barrels have the lower rib reinforcement just behind the barrel loop-

Did Smith ever nickel plate their guns on special order- this puppy has to be post 1926 as it has the same Stephen Gilles patented raised ventilated rib as on my 2E 12 32" Nitro steel barrel pigeon gun?

I like it- a tad heavy for a field gun, but fine for side-by-side SC events- BUT as Patton said about "Only a cheap pimp in a New Orleans Sportin' House" wonder about the "Bling effect" of this plated beauty--