A Smith Family Shoot

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Drew Hause

Milton: it is not unusual to find the pre-fit & finish barrel weight on pre-1913 Smiths, but not uniform; 'C' is likely Crucible Steel, '4 over 7' (4# 7oz.), and 'W&R' which was likely an importer of the "rough forged tubes".

The one im looking at is a 1917 vintage and is stamped 5 8 and looks to say BD , its a 10 ga Smith .

[Drew Hause]

Are the barrels damascus? What is the grade? Are you sure of the DOM?
'BD' if a commonly found mark on pre-1913 No. 0 guns, and possibly that of Bauduin Doyen, a Nessonvaux damascus barrel and gun maker. They became part of the Syndicat des Fabricants de canons de fusils de la Vesdre in 1907.
'WR' was probably William Read & Sons, Boston

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Drew Hause

Are the barrels damascus? What is the grade? Are you sure of the DOM?
'BD' if a commonly found mark on pre-1913 No. 0 guns, and possibly that of Bauduin Doyen, a Nessonvaux damascus barrel and gun maker. They became part of the Syndicat des Fabricants de canons de fusils de la Vesdre in 1907.
'WR' was probably William Read & Sons, Boston

Yes its a damascus ideal grade 10 gauge , from what ive read damascus was a special order option .
Thanks for the helpful reply Mr.Drew , I know hardly anything about Smiths but its always interesting to learn more about American doubles .