L.C. Smith Speaks for ItselfPAGE 3 L.C. SMITH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 Smith Distinction...

Although the bird hunting season is winding down, there is no need to put the L.C. Smith back in the gun safe. Come participate in the four side by side sporting clays shoots over the next two months our organization has endorsed. Rev. Drew has organized the “Doubles in the Desert” shoot on March 1; Ray Ward has coordinated the “Lake Oconee” shoot on March 9 ; Rev . Charlie has ar-ranged the “6th Annua l Sp r ing Shoot” on March 17; and Steve Ar-nett is liaison for t h e “ S o u t h e r n Side by Side” in Sanford, NC on April 25 - 27. De-t a i l s o f t h e s e shooting events can be found on our website and in the Future Events listed in this newsletter.

Over the last few months, our organization has been very active displaying L.C. Smith shotguns and increasing the understanding of the L.C. shotgun around the country. On the west coast, Dean Rasmus-sen organized a holiday L.C. display at Ivory Beads, a .410 display at the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show, a high grade gun display at the Inter-

national Order of St. Hubertus luncheon in Los Angeles and hosted an informal sporting clays shoot near Los Angeles. All of these events attracted double gun aficio-nados and brought new members into our organization. In the mid west, Len Applegate and Cliff White teamed up to exhibit our “Potpourri of Fine L.C. Smith Guns” consisting

o f s o m e f i n e L . C . ’ s a n d unique Hunter Arms memora-bilia at the Louis-ville Gun Show. The exhibit drew m a n y d o u b l e gun enthusiasts to our table. On the East Coast R e v . C h a r l i e Brooks has 35

shooters registered for our 6th An-nual Spring Shoot on March 17th at the Carlisle Fish and Game Club.

On the topic of hunting, you will enjoy an article in this issue writ-ten by one of our new Regional Rep Walton Starling. Walton’s article “Being a Realist in the 21st Century” level sets hunting as it is nowadays. I compare my hunting time line with Walton’s experiences and message. I began hunting with my father at

(Continued on page 8)

Volume 6, Issue 1

Don’t Put the L.C. Away By Frank Finch, Jr., Executive Director of the LCSCA

March 2008

Special points of in-terest:

• Executive Director article.

• Current Events

• Smith Distinction

• Future Events

Don’t Put the L.C. Away 1

The Great Leap Forward 2

National Gun Day 2

Smith Distinction 3

More on the Gladiator 6

Being a Realist in the 21st Century

7

Smith Distinction 8

Yellow 1

Classified 11

A Bit of Oswego County , NY History

4

Inside this issue:

L.C. Smith Speaks for Itself

Publicat ion of the L .C . Smith Col lectors Associat ion Pub l ished Quarterly March, June , September , And December

© 2008 L .C . Smith Col lectors assoc ia t ion

L .C. SMITH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF VOLUME 6 , ISSUE 1

The Great Leap Forward by Dean Rasmussen Date Line: Los Angeles, CA December 08, 2007 Subject: The Great Leap Forward

Due to the generosity of Jim Thynne and Jerry Kitto, the Southern California members of our association were hosted at an exclusive holiday party at their IVORY BEADS store in Covina, CA. The festive at-mosphere was enhanced by an extensive buffet and open bar. The many high grade guns which lined the walls were a delight to see and touch. The party lasted from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM and resulted in ten new members including one life member Gary Sayre. Gary must work under a lucky star because he was our first sign up and he pro-ceeded to sell three L.C. Smith’s that he has recently acquired. Our new annual mem-bers are: Lucio Sosta, Richard Ware, Tom Cacek, Peter Leffe, Ben Loving, George Gemmingen, Gary L. Thomas, Jim Ham and Tom Bria.

Ben Loving, a new member, brought a new unfired Crown Grade and a Quality 5 Baker to share with our group. John Houchins has opined that it is probably the only Quality 5 in existence. Ben has fully re-stored the gun which is a drilling. Unfortu-nately neither gun was for sale.

We were fortunate to have member Ron Gabriel in attendance and he regaled us with some personal stories about his ex-perience with .410 shotguns. Ron is the au-thor of “American and British .410 Shot-guns”. If you do not have a copy in your gun library, your library is missing a wonderful book.

A number of members brought gems from their Smith collections to share notably Cliff Wagner and Mark Effle.

The National Gun Day (aka The Louisville Show) by Frank Finch, Jr.

It was a pleasure to meet new L.C. Smith aficionados and renew old acquaint-ances at the February 2008 Louisville Gun Show. Our exhibit theme was 'Potpourri of Fine L.C. Smith Guns" including, among oth-ers, a drilling, Special Grade, Skeet Specials (12 & 20), Premier Skeets (12 & 20), Grade 5, unfired Specialty Grade and unfired .410 Ideal Grade. Displayed memorabilia in-cluded an 1900s Hunter Arms Dog Poster, assortment of L.C. Smith pins, ink blotter, match case and shooting photos. Len Apple-gate, Cliff White, Mary Anne & Frank Finch and our two new regional reps, Jason Harri-son and Walton Starling, helped man the booth. A great time was had by all atten-dees.

Current Events

(l to r) Len Applegate, Mary Anne Frank and Tammy Joe Finch Walton Starling and Keith Norman


Smith Distinction

Not quite “The Gun of Perfection” Glasbed Evangelism Part 2 by Drew Hause & Bill Hambidge

We hope Part 1 made it clear that W.H. Baker and Alexander Brown are not to blame for the ‘Long Cracked’ Smith guns offered on the internet auction sites. Their masterpiece was (almost) “The Gun of Perfection” when used with the loads for which it was designed. Shotshells have changed a bit from the 1880s, and since those of us who ap-preciate the elegance and grace of the Smith design want to use our guns (a lot) on game and clay targets, a 21st Cen-tury ‘cure’ exists which will enable us to do so.

Since most of us would agree that this is a less than desirable repair technique, Dr Bill is going to walk us

through the crack repair and glasbedding process. We would strongly urge anyone to first observe a stock repair expert complete the entire procedure prior to attempting this at home however.

We start with the usual crack at the apex of the lockplate inlay, with another hidden crack extending from the head of the stock inferiorly.

And on examination of the oil soaked head of the stock, we find even more cracks.

(Continued on Page 5)


A Bit of Oswego County, N.Y. History Reprinted with permission from the www.FultonHistory.com

(Smith Distinction, Continued from Page 3) Tools Needed 1. Dremel tool with various burr bits 2. Several feet of rubber surgical tubing 3. Small C-clamps. Consumables 1. Product of your choice to remove oil from the stock; acetone, lacquer

thinner, Brownells Old Fashion Whiting, etc. 2. Krazy Glue or other thin cyanoacralate glue 3. 1/8" hardwood or carbon fiber dowels may be required 4. Brownells Acraglas gel and release compound.

STEP 1 is to remove all the oil from the head of the stock, being careful not to get solvents on the finish. It may be necessary to use a chemical soak, and instruc-tions for doing so are on the LCSCA Home Page FAQs http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/oil.html The stock will of course require a refinish if a chemical soak is re-quired. STEP 2 After the stock is dry, paint the inner aspect of the headstock with the Krazy Glue to stabilize the pieces. Allow it to cure for 24 hours. STEP 3 is to go over the cracks with the Dremel burr to creating channels. Use the burr to undermine all bearing surfaces, including the top lever, top and bottom tangs, and lockplates. A Parker stock with a midline crack is shown.

STEP 4 is to start glassing in stages, restoring the "normal anatomy" of the stock as the first step. Dr Bill initially glasbedded with straight Acraglas-Gel, but now uses Gel mixed with 1/3 powdered steel by volume. The undermined areas are filled in with AcraGlas, then the headstock is wrapped with surgical tubing to maintain uniform 360 degree pres-sure. Between each glassing allow the stock to cure for 24 hours

(Continued on Page 6)

PAGE 5 L .C. SMITH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF VOLUME 6 , ISSUE 1


(Smith Distinction, Continued from Page 5) STEP 5 is the assembly of the trigger plate and receiver (minus the top lever spring) making sure the excess glas that squishes out is removed before allowing the hardening process. USE LOTS OF RELEASE COMPOUND!! STEP 6 is to glas the lock bedding, again with lots of release compound. Dr Bill allows the glas to set up for 3-4 hours at 70 degrees, then loosens all screws-they too need release compound. If you let it all harden into a glas, wood, and steel "mass" - DON'T PANIC - heating the metal with propane torch will soften the glas. STEP 7: Now comes the part that requires patience, reassembly. It will probably be necessary to remove a small amount of the glas to get everything to fit and function. Dr Bill uses old lipstick as contact indicator.

Tips for reassembly can be found on the ‘L.C. Smith Disassembly and Reassembly’ PictureTrail album http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery.fcgi?p=999&gid=15525639

Having completed the crack repair and glasbedding, we can now have confidence in using any standard shot weight, speed, and pressure load in our “Gun of Perfection.” We’d still recommend leaving the Kent Ultimate Upland 1 ½ oz. at 1400 fps 12g turkey whackers to your black plastic stocked Benelli SBE however!!

In our next installment of ‘Smith Distinction’, we’ll discuss how the L.C. ‘Wonderous Wood’ was finished at the end of the 19th century, and what Dr. Bill uses today.

Collecting the Smith Gun (a letter from a member)

More on the “Gladiator” I am addressing this to Al Gingrich via Drew Hause and Bill Hambidge. Al wrote to Bill and Drew in

newsletter volume 5, issue 4 concerning his Gladiator side-side. First of all, this is the first newsletter I have received since joining L.C. Smith Collectors and was thrilled to read Al's letter. I have a Gladiator that be-longed to my dad and before that to his father-in-law. My brother and I have looked for years and never found any information referencing the Gladiator. The coincidence of this letter being written when it was is mind-boggling.



The Gladiator in my possession is a hammerless side-by-side 12 Ga. 30 in. barrels that appear to be full choke. On the left plate is inscribed GLADIATOR; "Gladiator Field Grade" on top of left barrel at the breach end; Serial # 38077 on the receiver under the barrels, in front of the firing pins on right side; serial # 38077 also on inside of forend. The butt plate has the Hunter Arms Co. dog (retriever) with quail image but no mention of Hunter Arms anywhere. The firearm is in good shape, bores are excellent, wood appears to be a little light to be walnut (about the color of mahogany. Bluing is probably 70 % or less.

Was Al meaning that there are only about 170 Gladiator shotguns or 170 hammer shotguns? Any in-formation would be greatly appreciated (production numbers, date of production, ballpark value, etc.). I can-not afford the reference books like The Legend Lives. Any time I view, hold or shoot this fine piece, ... I feel my dad's presence and see him taking a dove.

Your servant, James Rawlins

(More on the Gladiator, Continued from page 6)

Being a Realist in the 21st Century by Walton Starling

I have seen a number of posts on one of the Internet Bulletin Boards, as well as the other three that cater in large part to the wing shooter that I find somewhat disturbing. As a result I penned the following. The general themes of these posts are divisive to our sport. The gen-eral thread of them entails either: guys that hunt on preserves or with guides are not “real” hunt-ers like I am because I go work for my birds; people are commercializing our sport by making it a business; people that go to South America and shoot tons are birds are just game hogs; or, I only believe in using or owning this type of gun.

Let me give a little biographical data on myself, just to illustrate. I am 46, married with twin 1-year-old daughters. I am a supervisor in a Metro Atlanta law enforcement agency; I work on average, 50+ hours a week and spend 8.5 hours a week commuting. I worked tons of over-time, bought and sold some property, invested well, inherited some monies, the result being that I have sufficient resources to do many of the things I enjoy. I grew up in the county I work for. It was a very different place then: the site of my boyhood home is a convenience store; our Family farm a subdivision; all the 10-50 acre farms that once held quail now grow houses filled with video game playing teenagers. Deer were once a curiosity we hunted 1 or 2 days a year, now they live in the suburbs too.

I moved 35 miles away. Bought 26 acres, to have a place to work my dogs, and have a garden. Twelve years ago I drove 10 miles to a grocery store. Today, I can sit in my deer stand in the woods behind my house and watch the cars come home in the new subdivi-sion; soon a Publix will be only 1.5 miles away.

I “hunt” on a preserve! It is an hour away. My dogs think the quail are real. They still lock up and quiver on point. I find it ok, but not the quail hunting of my boyhood. For several years I spent days going to Waynesboro and other quail “rich” destinations around the state. My last trip to Di-Lane Plantation, a Georgia WMA just for quail, resulted in 3 dogs on the ground for over six hours. Our only quail contact? One covey (8-10 birds) got up wild 100 yards or more from us. While I long for better hunting opportunities, it beats not seeing my dogs afield.

Our sport is an industry! Always has been. The Hunter Brothers were in it to make money. They did not bring out The Fulton just because they thought it would be fun to build a boxlock. Baker Gun & Forging got out of the gun business to build car and tractor parts because that was where they could make more money. Payne, Winston, or even Montague ever made a rod just for “the love” of the sport. While they may have had pride in their creation, just as Frank Mason was pleased with the dogs he toiled to engrave; they did it to earn a living.

Dove shooting in South America is just


L.C. SMITH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1

age of seven years old on our family farm in New Jersey. My dad began hunting in Pennsyl-vania with his dad from approximately the same age. We hunted rabbits and pheasants with bea-gle hounds and pump guns. Following my graduation from college, a family friend was bird hunting on our farm with his two English Setters and a double barrel L.C. Smith shotgun. Years later I learned that it was a Monogram Grade and the only three barrel set L.C. made. I was so impressed by the classic hunting style of the setters and side by side shotgun, I sought and found a totally restored/reblued L.C. Smith field grade that I used for the next twenty-five years. It was my launch into collecting and shooting L.C. Smith guns and hunting with my first Eng-lish Setter in 1968. The passion continues for L.C. Smith’s and English Setters.

The “Smith Distinction” Column in this is-sue by Rev. Drew and Dr. Bill contains Part Two of their “Glasbed Evangelism” article. If you shoot your Smith often, you will want to employ their suggestions. Other features in this issue are Tom Tryniski’s article on the “History of the Hunter Family and Arms Company” from www.fultonhistory.com website. Member Jim Rawlins letter on his father’s “Gladiator” shot-gun. Steve Arnett has summarized your input to

the Challenge Cup Survey and your suggestions are being considered for implementation at the 2008 Southern Side by Side. We are finalizing plans for our Al Kruse display at the May 16-18, 2008 NRA National Convention in Louisville, KY. Please come on down and join in the fun.

We encourage YOU to participate in our 2008 spring events! Our new MO “regional Rep”, Jason Harrison, has organized a high grade L.C. Smith gun display for the St. Louis Gun Show on March 29 & 30. Stop by, meet the guys and see a great collection of Smith guns. Also, mark your calendar for our Annual Meeting on Friday April 25, 2008 at 5 PM in the Deep River Club House. This is the weekend of “Enhanced” L.C. Smith vs. Parker Challenge Cup at Deep River Shooting School in Sanford, NC (April 25-27, 2008). This shoot for charity provides a friendly competition using our early American shotguns. The sportsmanship and ca-maraderie shared among all at the event is worth the journey!

With all these spring shooting events planned, your L.C. Smith will not have to be put back in the safe until summer. Once again, I want to thank each of you for your appreciation of L.C. Smith guns, your camaraderie, and shar-ing your sporting time with our organization.

(Dpn’t Put the LC Away, Continued from page 1)

being a game hog. Sign me up for the trough! It beats poisoning them.

I’m willing to throw the AR 15 guys under the bus to appease the Liberal Gun Grabbers? No! Do I feel the need to own a SKS? Really don’t. One poster on one of the Bulletin Boards had a post recently showing off some Korean War era guns. While they are not my cup of tea, I do see that they are wonderful examples of these arms. We cannot divide ourselves and thereby assist the gun control quacks.

We should all hold ourselves to be gen-tlemen. Let us lift one another up. While I long for the days of seeing my Dad and others clad in brown duck clothing uncase the 16 gauge A-5 or Model 12 as we unloaded at Mr. Smiths place.

Everyone was a Mr., everywhere someone’s Place. Those days are gone. I still have the Black Sheep brand coat and pants that were his, I even have the pants of my Grandfather, made to wear inside tall boots. They have left for The Un-Discovered Country where I hope they have found some coveys. We must remember we live in a time where many no longer feel or see the need to take a gun to the field to play out this opera that has taken place since time immemo-rial. They find it odd that someone would want to cradle a fish they have caught fairly. One day I hope to share these times with my daughters. We can not afford to segment ourselves in the firearms community.

(Being a Realist in the 21st Century Continued from page 7)


Club News

2008 Events

DATE EVENT LOCATION

3/17/08 6th Annual Spring Shoot Carlisle Fish and Game Club, Carlisle, PA

3/29—3/30/08 St Louis Gun Show Convention Center Plaza, St Charles, MO

4/25—4/27/08 Southern Side-by-Side Deep River Shooting School, 284 Cletus Hall RD, Sanford, NC

4/25/08 Annual Meeting Deep River Club House 4/25/08 @ 5PM

5/16—5/18/08 NRA National Convention Louisville, KY

6/08 California Event Coyote Valley, San Jose, CA

7/19—7/20/08 Ohio Gun Collectors Show Robert’s Center, 123 Gano RD, Wilmington, OH 45177

9/25—9/28/08 Vintage Cup Pintail Point, Queenstown, MD

11/8—11/9/08 Tulsa Gun Show Tulsa, OK

11/1/08 5thAnnual Turkey Shoot Prince Georges Trap & Skeet, Glen Dale, MD

Attention Shooters: Mark your calendars and please come support the LCSCA in the L.C. Smith ~ Parker Challenge Cup. It will take place at the Southern Side-by-Side April 25-27, 2008 in Sanford, NC.


Dutchman Wood Works: Reproduction Butt Plates & Grip Caps Stockmaking Re-pairs and Restorations. Larry Schuknecht (716) 741-3739 www.dutchmanwoodworks.com E-mail: [email protected] 7750 Salt Road, Clarence Center, N.Y. 14032 Galazan 35 Woodland St. New Britain, CT 06051 (800) 515-4867 Contact: Tony Galazan Specialty: Fine Doubles and Accessories Marsh Creek Outfitters: Firearms Sales & Service Appraisals-Consignments-Repairs (812) 398-4570, Bill & Marsha Carrithers P.O. Box 238, 108 W. Harrison, Carlisle, IN 47838

The Stock Doctor Custom Stocks, checkering, stock repair, and refinishing. Dennis Smith 83134 Tygh Valley RD Tygh Valley, OR 97063 Phone/Fax (541) 483-2182 [email protected] Dawson's Doubles 101 D. D. Lane Spring Branch, Texas 78070 Shop 830 438 4340 cell 210 602 6360 email [email protected] www.dawsonsdoubles.com

L.C. Smith Yellow Page

L.C. Smith Classifieds The L.C. Smith Collectors Association accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the seller’s description. All negotia-tions are strictly between the buyer and seller. The buyer and seller are responsible for complying with all applicable state and federal laws. NOTE: Ads are only run for one issue unless the advertiser contacts the publisher (Len Applegate) to continue to run the ad by the cut-off for the next issue.

FOR SALE: Several High Grade L.C. Smiths Call Cliff for details (404) 626-2501 Rare 12 ga. Type 1 Syracuse Hammer Gun in good condition, Quality F, SN 27375, rotary bolt, rebated frame, great conditioned original forend and stock with "dog on point" butt plate, patina receiver and Damascus barrels and good bores. Price $850. Frank (732)899-1498 Early Hunter Arms Quality 2 12 ga. Basketweave butt plate SN 35606 30 Damascus Full/Full. Good bores, good wood finish, little case color $800. Len (513)942-7572 [email protected]

WANTED: L.C. Smith Grade 1 20 ga Collector Quality. Frank (732) 899-1498 12 ga FWE Forend (Complete or metal only) Frank (732) 899-1498 L.C. Smith 00 and 0 grade 20 ga High Collector condi-tion. Call (805) 581-2275 or e-mail [email protected] L.C. Smith 2 or 3 grade 16 ga Straight Grip double trig-ger ejector or non-ejector, fluid steel or damascus barrels. Gregg Elliott (617)872-5151 L.C. Smith Skeet Guns All gauges & grades [email protected] or (434)369-4926

The purpose of The L.C. Smith Collectors Association is:

1. To Stimulate and educate members and the public in their

knowledge of the history and production of the L.C. Smith shot-

gun.

2. To support the Cody Museum in utilization of the surviving L.C.

Smith records.

3. To encourage creation of a L.C. Smith museum.

4. To encourage the value of good sportsmanship to members and

the public.

5. To promote a positive and responsible use of firearms to mem-

bers and the public.

PUBLICATION OF THE L.C. SMITH COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION PUBLISHED QUARTERLY MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, AND DECEMBER © 2008 L.C. SMITH COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION

L.C. Smith the gun that speaks for itself

Caps $15 Shirts (Sm to 2XLg) $27 3XLg $29

Same Price long or short sleeve Denim or Dri-Fast Polo Plus Shipping & Handling

Join the Team! L.C. Smith Collectors Shirts and Caps

are available

Spin Wheel Fashions 2522 Littlestown Pike Westminster, MD 21158 (410)346-7255

Organization Address: For the time being you can reach us in care of, L.C. Smith Collectors Association C/o Len Applegate 7572 Overglen DR West Chester, OH 45069

Phone: 513-942-7572 Email: [email protected] www.lcsmith.org

L.C. Smith Speaks for ItselfPAGE 3 L.C. SMITH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 Smith Distinction...

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