doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com LC Smith Pigeon

Sorry it took so long to get back. The barrels have not been cut. My Galazan choke ga shows modified and full. Engraving is sharp....not polished looking. Barrels ring nice no sign of loose ribs. Bores don't look honed but the Chambers are a full 2 3/4" not 2 5/8 like my nominally 2-3/4 1903 Parker VH or my 1927 AH Fox. Chambers were also checked by me using my Galazan gauges. The gunsmith who has this on consignment has agreed to let me fire a few light trap loads in his ammo trap. The selective single trigger seems to work with snap caps. I may make an offer as it has now been there over a month. Can't hurt anyway. If I pull the trigger on a purchase (pun intended!) I guess I would have a decision to make as to strip bluing from the receiver or leave it alone. Thanks for the thoughts

Arnold: from the beginning of the Smith hammerless in 1886, chambers were bored 2 3/4" unless otherwise indicated on the barrel flats.

1910 Norvell-Shapleigh, St. Louis catalog. $188 in 1910 is about $5000 today.



If you get the gun you might enjoy "The L.C. Smith Pigeon Gun" in The Double Gun Journal, Volume 22, Issue 2, p. 110, 2011.

Some information here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rtqfXbMHv08c0iojRUFUV5kR7jIc-7jdinPZEmI9WSc/preview

It is also possible that a Research Letter might document the original purchaser. If so, let us know and I'll see if I can find any information regarding the shooter.
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=43784&module_id=245742

A 1913 Lefever Arms Co catalog states that all their 12 ga guns are shipped with 2 3/4" chambers "unless" otherwise ordered. I do not know at what point this took effect, but a Ca 1892 gun of mine SNd 20633 has 2 5/8" chambers while one @ #29,471 has 2 3/4" chambers. All my 12 gauge Lefevers with higher numbers than this one have 2 3/4" chambers. I am thinking, but not certain, they changed to the 2 3/4" chambers about the time they changed to the large single cocking hook.

I am not positive if anyone intentionally bored barrels with 2 5/8" chambers & marked them for 2 3/4" shells other than Parker Bros.

PS; I also have a post-1907 H grade LAC 16 gauge with 2 3/4" chambers. It has regular (Short) forcing cones & there is no indication the chambers have been lengthened, likely ordered that way. It has 28" Twist barrels, full choked in both barrels & weighs in @ 6 3/4 lbs, so likely built as a Duck gun.