I'm really not trying to pile on, but Dave has been at this on multiple Forums for a long time, has his reasons for his historical fiction, and I believe knows better.

This is his post on the Lefever Forum regarding his "Special Order" Nitro Special
http://lefeverforum.informe.com/viewtopic.php?t=1674

Scroll down about 3/4 and he posted an image of "Kraus's signature Woodcock engraving" on a Gr. 2 Smith

He posted the same gun this week on Shotgun World
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=107&t=482434
and the gun is now a "1898 L.C. Smith Pre-Production 20 Gauge on the Standard Frame" with "the finest Damascus Barrels Sir Joseph ever made"
The first 20 gauge recorded in the Hunter Arms shipping records is a No. 2 SN 1003 finished July 12, 1907.

He has also claimed that there were 8-10 28g Smiths produced.

Here is his "1900 Silver Breech L.C. Smith Pigeon Grade SXS double gun with pre-production Beavertail Forestock, made for competition Pigeon & Trap shooting, only three of these guns were ever produced, two for the Hunter Arms professional demonstration shooter, and one for my Great Grandfather who was a silent partner with John Hunter Sr. President and CEO of Hunter Arms."
http://gundogforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=86&t=31578


https://sites.google.com/a/damascusknowledge.com/www/home