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It is not true that chamber lengths were not marked until Marlin bought Hunter Arms in 1945. I have a 1933 16ga field that is marked 2 3/4" on the barrel flats, and a 1936 .410 that is also marked 3" on the flats. Both these marks are in the style of the WF/LR marks with the length in the center of arched lettering. I also have a Marlin built 16 from 1946 that does not have a chamber length stamp on the flats. Others I have seen from the Marlin era have the chamber length stamped in a straight line close to the barrel lug. As to "butchering" a gun by lengthening the chamber to a more useful length, that is your personal opinion, and not one that I share, obviously.

After working on a large number of customer and personal L.C. Smiths over the years, I have NEVER viewed one with chamber markings other than the .410, yes, the 3" long range yes, the Marlin built guns, yes........other Hunter manufactured guns, no.........it is most likely your '33 16 has replacement barrels...?......I have several 16's from the '30's and NONE have chamber markings......same with my 12's and 20's etc. from the non-Marlin era........Brophy and Houchins also note no chamber markings as standard......

Drew and JDW and others will be along shortly and give you the update and pictures/data on how many L.C. Smith barrel flats were marked with FACTORY chamber dimensions prior to 1940.....

1906 2E



1923 Specialty



More here http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/19686599

I am of the opinion that the chambers were marked only if other than standard.

Regardless if they were marked or not I still believe 1938 is well beyond the old standard 2 9/16� chambers.

I must concur with Tom. Quite often at LCSCA events we see chamber stamps on guns prior to Marlin-era guns, and the general consensus is that the stamps became common around the time the sub-gauge longer chambers were standardized---mid to late 30's. As far as I know, no one has done a study--either of the Cody or LCSCA (one and the same) records to determine when these stamps were standardized, and Drew's pictures support Tom's statement. Further, I have pictures of a 1914 Eagle-- original-- with the chamber stamp.

The pictures posted by Dr. Drew above coincide with my Smith gun observations; which is that the gunworks stamped chamber lengths only on guns special ORDERED with other than standard length chambers were marked with a chamber length; and the Long Range/Wildfowl models. And based on those observations, I would tend to agree with Tom Martin that the factory chamber length on the subject gun is 2 9/16"; perhaps the owner of this gun will have them measured and post results here? As to altering those short chamber lengths; doing so would not give me heartburn provided the work was properly performed. But regardless of manufacture period (Hunter Arms/Marlin/etc), the company always maintained a service/repair department and regularly offered chamber lengthening services on barrel sets sent to them for modification; and other period companies offered the same services. The first that comes to mind is Savage, as apparently every Fox gun sent to Savage for repair got the chambers modified whether the customer made that request or not; which was OK I suppose, but why Savage decided to place that chamber stamp length on the sides of the barrels I'll never know!).

These three quotes all make sense to me, probably one out of every 500 or so, if that many, was special chamber ordered and barrel flat marked.....?.........I've never seen one personally, but they must be out there somewhere......Drew's pictures shows two non-standard ones.......

Anybody else have pictures and details of pre 1940 L.C. Smith guns with chamber length markings on the barrel flats......?.....

A record check with Cody could probably find out how many non-standard chambers were ordered......It would probably take at least eight hours minimum looking through the original factory ledgers at the museum.......?......

It would be very interesting to know the total number manufactured with these chamber length non-standard markings......According to the books, L. C. Smith and Hunter Arms combined produced a total of 299,603 double barrel guns from 1880 thru 1945.......

I have a 20ga field grade #FW115227, made around 1929 that has the correct marking for a 2 3/4" gun. 2 1/2" was normal at that time. I thought I had a photo of the marking but cannot seem to find it, I think Drew has a photo of the barrel flats in his stuff. I also have a 16ga # FW151574 (1937) that is 2 9/16, I believe that was common up to WWII.

'A record check with Cody could probably find out how many non-standard chambers were ordered......It would probably take at least eight hours minimum looking through the original factory ledgers at the museum"

The LCSCA has a copy of the Cody/Marlin shipping records; and seldom (I've not seen an example, but observe the never say never policy) are such details noted in the shipping ledger pages. For the most part all that is contained within those records are serial number, gauge, barrel length, grade, inspector initial, and ship date. After 1918 the ledgers were modified to include frame type (standard or feather weight) and factory code designations to indicate the factory options each gun was ordered and shipped with; ejectors (prior to 1918, Smith guns with factory installed auto ejectors were identified by serial number block), Hunter One Trigger, beavertail, vent rib, etc).

In addition to what Topgun has noted, the records will also indicate if the gun was shipped as a two barrel set. The length of both barrels will be given. Occasionally, a later additional barrel set will also be listed.I have two, two barrel sets. One is a 2E that was ordered with two barrels in 1906 and the ledger entry shows both barrel lengths. The other is a PE grade shipped in 1909 with chain Damascus barrels. In 1927 that gun was sent back for a set of steel barrels and the additional barrels were entered above the original entry.