Pleasant surprise! DH and GHE

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

I agree with Bill. Please consider this: If we knew that a famous Trapshooter owned and used this Parker and had the rib installed to raise his scores would we remove it? Probably not! That rib is a part of history rather Parker collectors like it or not!

[Autumn Daze]

I agree with Bill and Mark....No way would I remove that rib!

[Bill Murphy]

Years ago, I was at an auction where a Glahn signed gold inlaid Smith was offered. It was a ten gauge with aftermarket vent rib and Miller trigger. No serious collector would touch it, including me. It sold for peanuts and has been sold a few times since. It is the greatest old Smith I have ever seen and would buy it today if I could find it. I wonder what the Smith records say about that gun?

How many "after market" rib installers were there back in "The Day"- The original Gifford Simmons 1926 designed ventilated rib on the set of 32" Nitro barrels my older 2E Smith has are original (I have a copy of the work order card and the new barrels are serialed to the gun-

I think a raised ventilated rib- to my vision and perspective, seems to "fore-shorten" a bit the barrel length when you mount the gun and shoot- I always hold the gun low and under the expected target- whether a crossing orange clay disc or a pair of incoming mallards- butt under my armpit, then move and mount- If I shot Trap doubles with either this Smith or my friend's M21 32" VR Trap Grade 12-with the gun premounted, perhaps the view of barrel length might seem different- I like the VR on a live bird and waterfowling gun, for a quail or pheasant side-by, I prefer std. 28" with regular file cut rib- to each his own!!

[Bill Murphy]

Francis, is this Gifford Simmons mentioned in a book on the L.C. Smith gun or did you do your research somewhere else? Your Smith and my Smith are the only ones I have ever heard of with Hunter Arms installed vent ribs on guns made before the introduction of vent ribs by Smith. I don't have provenance of the installation of my rib, nor do I know whether the barrels are replacement barrels or whether just the rib was replaced. I do know that it is my favorite Smith and the only one I shoot on a regular basis. My vent rib 32" Smith is an OE Grade made about 1907.