doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - LC Smith 28 gauge history

Was perusing EX-Lax Bay recently-looking for a used non-logo L.C. Smith cocking tool for sale (loaned mine at a gun show a while ago, forgot to get it back-my bad)-- Gent had an ad for a stock and forearm for a 28 gauge L.C. Smith- good fotos, clearly showing the front rod of the short lived Curtis release for extractor Smith guns-- His ad claims the 28 gauge was made after Marlin bought Hunter Arms (1945??) Something doesn't jibe here, and my brother-in-law in MD has my copy of the Houchins "Bible" for the nonce. I think this gent is confused, as he wrote me that Smiths were made again in all gauges in the 1960's-- well, he is 1/5th correct, if he means the field grade 12 gauge 28"barreled with aluminum vented top rib, DT, EXT, but I don't believe they were made in: 16, 20, 28 and .410.. Few .410 Smiths are extant, the only confirmed one I know of belonged to the late Ernest Hemingway, as per Caliabi"s writings on EMH..RWTF

I don't remember the exact numbers, but the original shipping records report about 2700 .410 bore double guns being built by Hunter Arms and under Marlin ownership from 1926 to 1950; so Mr. Hemingway certainly didn't have the only one made. These guns were recorded as having been shipped in a variety of grades from Field to Crown; but the overwhelming majority were shipped as Field Grades. I recently reviewed two .410 Monogram Grade .410 guns; neither is recorded as such in the records, but are fascinating and absolutely legit in my opinion. Have no idea why the actual articles themselves don't jive with the shipping records; but assuming I live long enough and the DGJ remains in business, detailed photos will eventually be featured in articles and folks can decide for themselves. I'll also feature a fake Crown Grade upgraded from Field (seem to be a fair number of fakes out there as prices have risen) and explain why it's a fake.

As to L.C. Smith guns in 28-bore, there's only one record of a legitimate factory 28-bore gun (sn #100) and it's an OOE Grade built on a 20 gauge frame for a family member. That gun was not treated gently, but has survived and was recently sold to a Smith collector who'll likely be displaying the gun at the annual Hunter Homecoming in Fulton, NY. There's also a few 28-bore LC Smith guns around that are recorded as 20-bores; these guns have been after-market sleeved to 28-bore. I don't doubt the ad "clearly showing the front rod of the short lived Curtis release"; but I can assure you whatever that is it didn't come from a Smith 28 or .410 bore. The push-button, or Curtis forearm release, had been discontinued from production long before the first .410 Smith was manufactured in 1926; while the only 28-bore Smith (a pre-13 era gun produced prior to the Curtis forend release) had auto-ejectors, and the Curtis forend fastener will only work with manual extractor guns.