doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Smith evaluation. A total shame.

Had a gun brought over to me for evaluation to buy. Told it was a grade 3E Smith which is a decent grade, not the best but not a Crescent either. LC Smith grade3, ejectors, seller said 100%. I said 100% shame. It was poorly restocked, with a flashy blank of Claro that should have been used as kindling to start a fire, that had gaps filled with bedding compound. Single trigger worked most times. Stock had two cracks behind side plate and I am sure one or more under them. It has ejectors which has one weak side or a timing issue. It would trip, but only kick an empty out about one third way. Worst was that the entire gun, 100% of it was hot blued and the barrels now do not ring at all. Certain the rib is loose in one or more places. And for the best part was the “factory original white line pad” which was installed upside down and ground down by a beaver missing one or more teeth.

Looking at it the engraving it looks perfect. I think somebody found a decent mid grade, with little finish and decided to tart it up, a lot. By the time I got done showing the seller what his issues were and explaining collectors only want original condition, failing that might except flawless return to original type finish but not 100% finish. To a collector, this gun was a shooter which had three major problems.

A quick run down of the major problems. Single trigger needed attention. Ejectors need attention. Stock is cracked and will crack more because it is the wrong type of wood, a very soft orchard blank, laid out wrong and done poorly. Explained Smiths did not come with bedding compound to fill gaps. Then I listed the minor problems like hot blue jobs ruining barrels on doubles. Recoil pad upside down. 16 lpi checkering done by a person with Parkinson’s. And blue on every part.

Explained that no collector would have any interest in this gun. It was not even a decent parts gun or potential project gun. Yes you could restock it, recase finish, strip try to neutralize the hot blue, clean out holes in the under rib to try to get any hot blue salts neutralized, or best to remove the ribs and relay them, then slow rust blue the barrels and then you could extend the short trigger guard they used on a straight stock. You might get this all done for $6-7-8-9,000.00. As it is I would not keep it for parts at all. What a shame.

What’s the asking price?

Seller was asking $4,000.00. Certain he did a quick search on GunBroker or the internet. I would not have given him $4.00 for the gun. It was beyond a money pit. It was shiny, but a total basket case. Hot dipped blue job tends to ruin my day on doubles.

My. Buddy used to always say the following. " Looks good from far, but far from good."

Jon, you described everything wrong with the gun, but you failed to describe the look on the man's face after you pointed out the problems. That would have been interesting to see. Gil

Don’t forget, pictures lie and liars take pictures

I showed him a factory original gun, be it a lower grade, and pointed out everything I mentioned plus a few buggered screws. He either thought he had the holy grail or was really surprised. He might find a buyer, but none who would pay anything near his asking price. At one time it was a nice gun but now it is just a shiny state of sadness. And I hate to think about what that hot blue job is going to do to that we ribs, has already done to those ribs.

reminds me of a fellow carpenter, who described another tradesman as being "fine on the rough work and rough on the fine work".

best regards,

tom

Just think how bummed you would have been if all of the above had happened to a gun that mattered.


Best.

Ted