doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com L.C. Smith project possibility

I've been a long-term, read-only guy on the forum and it's been a great site to gain a wealth of knowledge. I have been searching for a while for a L.C. Smith or Parker as a project. I have wanted to find a well abused one and came across this one while on vacation. So, I have one day to make a decision and don't have any time to do research, so I thought I would ask here. I am a SxS virgin so any and all explanations will be appreciated. The gun has had the finished removed and polishing taking away some of the engraving, the barrels are approximately 24 1/2" (looks as if it could be cut down, and the stock has obviously been shortened. 2 3/4 chambers, 20 gauge. The grip cap is also broken. It locks up tight. Serial #1411R salesman said it was a series E?, field grade.

with 24&1/2" bbls I would pass on it no matter the price.

Hello mngundog,
Welcome on your first posting.
Yes, sage advice unless you are a woodcock hunter
You have not posted a location?
Is mn somewhere up north?

Mike

If you want a decent gun as a project post what you desire on the For Sale forum. You will receive some good offers!

With that s/n it's most likely a pre-13 gun and, if so, not a Field grade. As a project gun it's not because 1) the barrels are whacked and you'll never find barrels that will fit without a lot of fitting; 2) pre-13 stocks are almost nonexistent used, and;3) the salesman does not know much about Smiths because there is no such thing as a Series E (probably an ejector gun).
It's a parts gun---not a project gun.

And they ALL "lock up tight" unless somebody has been whaling on them with a sledge hammer.

IMO the principal reason to skip a beat-on Smith as a project is mainly the difficulty of inletting a replacement stock. Costs serious money to get it done right. Start with something simpler, or in better condition. Or both.

Thanks for the advice, looks like I'll pass on this one. I had planned on posting some pics, but haven't figured that out yet. I'm from Minnesota we call it God's Country about four weeks out of the year....

gundog,

please check your PMs

Box locks are easier than side locks as projects as a rule. First rule of projects it to find a gun with good solid barrels. Then do as much yourself as possible. Expert outsourcing different parts of a project gun becomes very expensive in the real world. Far cheaper to buy a high condition gun than recreate one in a project. Most projects are just a gun needing to be fixed up to become a shooter. Much above that, is very expensive in my personal experience. Half the fun is in the looking and half is in the work making the gun into a decent shooter.

If your are looking for a special gun, based on some memory of childhood or a whim go for it. A project is a chance to do something out of the ordinary. Far easier to buy a factory gun at Dicks than fix up a interesting gun that has fallen on hard times.