John, responded to your post on the L.C. Smith site, but will say again that this is an 1887-88 Syracuse made L.C. Smith. You were not sure of the serial number on the collectors site so I was hoping that you would include it so I could put it in the records, of which you did here.
Is it a 10 gauge as the sideplates are almost touching the breech balls? If a 12 gauge it must be on the heavy frame.
Also how long are the barrels?
This is the first one I have seen with the dogs head for-end escutcheon and the diamond ebony tip. All Syracuse Quality guns and early Hunter Arms guns had the vase shaped ebony tip and no for-end escutcheon except for the very few late ones in the 22,000 serial number range with a diamond shaped ebony escutcheon.
As to the dimples on the receiver frame, no one seems to know what they are. There is speculation that they might have been put there for cocking indicators, but the ones seen have random and scattered serial numbers. I have one in the 20,000 range that has them.
You will find the checkering to be 22-24 lpi for the lowest grade gun made then. the workmanship was first class on these guns.
The Trap gun butt plate was an advertising ploy that they used, they wanted you to know that these guns were good in the field as well as at the trap. Some just has the dog watching the duck fall and below that Syracuse, N.Y.
A very nice find indeed.
Last edited by JDW; 10/11/15 07:57 PM.
