For Larry Brown: LC Smith hammer guns were built in 10, 12 and 16 gauge. No 20 gauges were advertized or known to exist. The type II guns built after 1898 in 12 gauge all have 2 3/4" chambers, but 2 9/16" would have been standard during hammer gun production, along with bores of .650" diameter. The steel barrel Smith hammer guns should actually be stronger than their hammerless counterparts, as less metal was removed from the frame due to no cocking mechanism, and less wood was removed from the head of the stock for the safety and cocking parts. Based on my observations, very few LC Smith hammer guns are seen with cracked stocks.
Thanks for that, Tom. I knew there were tens, couldn't recall whether there were 16's. Your points about strength vs the hammerless make sense--but some of them are now a century plus in age. And some current 2 3/4" factory shells are either way heavier in terms of shot charge or else have far higher velocities (or some of both) than were available when those Elsies were made. Standard velocity target loads are likely pretty safe, but I'd certainly stay away from anything either very heavy or very fast. IMO, the very heavy/very fast lead loads for upland game are basically unnecessary anyhow. I don't think the birds we shoot today are any harder to kill than the birds those old Elsies were killing with early smokeless loads over 100 years ago.
