lc smith

[Old and Reliable]

I have a 12 FW Smith with 26" barrels- came with the factory yellow tag- is choked Imp. Cyl. and Mod. and has the higher rib they came out with in 1939.
I like it for SC- DT but extractors, and except for the two-man hurry event, you don't need ejectors. It is an Ideal Grade- the only 12 Smith (OK- all my Smiths are 12 gauge) I own that is post 1913 and is a FW.

I am overhauling (strip and clean mechanism) a Field 16 FWE for a friend- made in 1926 (according to Houchin's book) and it has 30" Armor steel barrels both choked Full. Another friend has a 3E made in 1911- that is a light Mod. and Full 28" Nirto Steel barrels and is a great pheasant gun.

But I love the 30" and 32" barreled 12 ejector Smiths with tight chokes- great for pass shooting, Euro and tower bird shoots, and I like to see big birds crumple- so I like tighter chokes-

Charlie- tell me what you like in 12 hulls- I don't reload anymore- I have some green Remington STS and some red Win AA's- yours for the shipping cost to you- send me a PM if interested.

I think its great we can discuss openly the other fine doubles being used and appreciated afield today, besides our Parkers- if you had filet mignon for supper every night, might you not want something different every now and then?

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Francis Morin

I think its great we can discuss openly the other fine doubles being used and appreciated afield today, besides our Parkers- if you had filet mignon for supper every night, might you not want something different every now and then?

Francis what other fine doubles are you referring to, I thought this thread was about LC Smith

Yawn.........it's time to go chase some ducks!

[Old and Reliable]

Gosh, never thought about that. I only own Parker, L.C. Smith and AH Fox side-by-sides, mainly lower to middle grades, all 12's except the Sterlingworth 20, all with double triggers- about 60% have selective ejectors, none have straight grips or beavertailed forearms, one has a factory ventilated rib- Sort of a cross section of working/using guns that fit me well and perform very well-reliable, consistent trigger pulls, ejectors in time, on face-

But to really address the ROTFLMAO question that brother Lester posed: I'd go with the late Micheal McIntosh's 1989 book- "Best Guns" and with the exception of the Remington 32- only because it is an over/under and NOT a side-by-side, go with his picks.

I have, in my now 70 years- seen a few very high grade American made side-bys (seen, NOT shot or acquirred however) and the one that I recall the best was a 16 gauge Uncle Dan LeFever Optimus Grade in original case with accessories. Recent area gun shows have a Phila CE Fox 16 with Krupp Steel barrels and single trigger and straight grip, as also with the LeFever, and a friend showed me a 1912 era Parker 28 gauge CHE that was truly stunning- engraving, wood to metal-

All good, but for my field usage, I'll stay with the more affordable (for me) grades. As far as Best Guns from Europe or England, well as the late J.P. "The Nose" Morgan once said about yachts-- etc etc etc..