Way back when I was editor of the L.C. Smith Journal I was collecting information on the Syracuse line of L.C. Smith's, taking serial numbers and pictures when available. I had talked with Tom Archer who in my opinion knows more about these guns than anyone. Tom was a good friend to Buck and I told him what information I was looking for and he said give Buck a call. My questions to him were that in the catalogs of Syracuse they gave the grades of 12 gauge and 10 gauge and the barrel lengths of 30" or 32", then written was they were offered in 3 difference weight classes Medium, Heavy, and Extra Heavy so I asked Buck if he had any knowledge of that and anything written. He knew of the weights and had seen many but the only thing he told me was that the difference would be in the barrel weights and the difference between the firing pin holes. Since that conversation whenever I had the chance to get the information I did and recorded it. When Lyman sold the company to John Hunter Sr. the early Fulton line looked like the Syracuse guns but in my records the serial numbers started at 30000, whereas 25000-29999 were all hammer guns.
From 1888 Catalog
Gauge: Weight: Length:
10 8 ½ to 9 ¾ 30
10 9 ½ to 11 32
12 7 ½ to 9 ¼ 30
12 9 to 9 ½ 32
Yes he will be missed and a tremendous amount of information and knowledge will be lost. RIP Buck.
