doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Worth restoring LC Smith Field?

Hello,

My LGS has an LC Smith Field that requires some soldering to make it work right.

I am not sure if the problems end there, but they begin there.

I am not sure of the exact terminology, but the 'lump' that is soldered under the barrels, to the space between the barrels, and that serves as the leverage point for the forearm spring to 'snap' into place- well, that piece has popped off the one they have.

The forend just kind of sits there, when the LC is vertical. Or falls off if horizontal.

I looked at it and there is about an 8" piece of rib that fills the gap between the barrels, that begins at the flat water table area of the barrels where the ejector rods sit, and extends to the leverage block that is used to pull the forend into place: and it just falls into the hand as one piece- from that raised lump all the way to the flat base area at the chambers.

I don't have pics, and can't really justify going into a gun shop to take pics of a shotgun I am not buying, search the internet for solutions, and then go back. Maybe it is ok to do so, but I am hesitant to- as it feels 'wrong' to me.


So, my question: is there a ballpark amount I could expect to have that 8-10" section re-soldered into place, so that the shotgun becomes usable?

The price on the shotgun is low- but I don't want to buy it and find I should have just walked away to buy another one. And I already have a Field LC Smith in good shape- so I don't need another of the same- unless the repaired shotgun is still a notable savings over what I paid for my 'first' LC.

However, I also do like restoring things to full function- if I can at least break even.

So- anyone have any ideas of cost, and/or suggestion of whom to contact for something like this? Please share- either in post or message me.

If it�s 50.00 bucks or less buy it, if not, hard pass!

Probably not worth messing with.

Instead, if it were a family heirloom from Grandpa, you might want to undertake what could become a costly project. A "Full Restoration" of an old SxS with blueing, case coloring, stock refinishing, etc. will generally run from $1,000 to $1,500; and take 6 months.

And then figure on lots more for the hidden problems!!

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Yup. Every gun I've done.

If you can't do the work yourself you will never come close to breaking even.

Agree- 100% there are tons of 12 gauge Field Grade (mostly extracxtor guns with DT) out there for under $450 in today's market. Pass this baby up- you say the movie "The Money Pit?" perhaps- don't but a beater and expect to get it repaired and end up with a Steinway of a Smith. Check with my friend Jerry Andrews in West (By God) VA-- he has many 12 field grade DT double guns- Smiths can have a lot of "sub rosa" flaws in the innards-- mainly caused by owner neglect and abuse, IMO-- RWTF

Usually takes some doing to detach a Smith loop, and either rust or hot caustic salts are usually involved. It is attached with an indexing screw and silver soldered



Another issue is heavy homemade BTFEs without the factory reinforcing loop support. This is a later variant



So short of JB weld (that IS a joke) it is likely that an entire rib relay will be required to do the repair correctly.

Thanks all!

I didn't think it was worth the work. I guess the only way it could be worth buying is for the parts, and just give up on the barrels.

But I won't try to restore it- I can see the folly of expecting to do so.

I like the Money Pit reference. I get that.

However, I liked the Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House movie of the '50s better. Similar concept, if I recall correctly, but Myrna Loy and Cary Grant.

My record with buying fixer upper shotguns of higher potential than a field LC Smith, says " walk away, do not look back."
I now believe restoring double shotguns is pretty much a labor of love, and often not economic good sense.