I have yet to see an L.C. Smith Syracuse with a crack behind the locks as well as most of the pre-13 ones. I believe a lot had to do with the quality of the wood. When Lyman sold the L.C. Smith Gun Company in Syracuse to John Hunter, the wood alone was estimated at $250,000 and that was in 1889.
I too believe that many of the cracks behind the locks are from loosened screws and using the wrong loads as these guns were passed down through the years. Ignorance is bliss.
If you think there is little wood between the locks, look at one with a Hunter One Trigger, more wood has to be removed for the trigger. Scary thin.
Last edited by JDW; 01/03/15 03:46 PM.
