Breaking Down the L. C. Smith Double-Barreled Shotgun

In 1877, Lyman C. Smith, his brother Leroy, and an inventor named W. H. Baker formed a company to manufacture shotguns and a three-barreled combination rifle/shotgun of Baker’s design. In 1880, Leroy Smith and Baker left the partnership to move on to another venture, leaving Lyman Smith in charge of the company that continued to manufacture the Baker gun. The famous name L. C. Smith of Syracuse, New York, was first applied to a line of outside-hammer shotguns in 1884, while the hammerless L. C.

Smith model was introduced about 1886. Beginning in 1888 or 89, Smith sold the company to John Hunter, and from then on the L. C. Smith shotgun was manufactured by the Hunter Arms Co., Inc., of Fulton, New York. In addition to the L. C. Smith line, Hunter Arms also manufactured the Fulton, the Hunter, and other brands of shotguns, including private-label shotguns.

Hunter went bankrupt in 1917, was bought by a group of investors in 1920, and slugged along in bankruptcy until the company was purchased in 1945 by Marlin Firearms. Due to their side-lock construction, L. C. Smith double-barrel shotguns are unique among American doubles. Aside-lock means the lock parts are contained on removable side plates that are partially inletted into the steel of the action and partially inletted into the buttstock. Hunter Arms adopted the Baker top-bolt for holding the barrels closed.

Baker’s top-bolt consisted of a rotating cylinder that was slotted to engage an extension of the top rib between the barrels. The bolt used a sloped locking surface which tightened automatically. This system was later used by both Fox and Ithaca. Although L. C. Smith shotguns were manufactured in a wide variety of grades, all made use of the same basic mechanical design. They were offered with different accessory features and with varying qualities of wood, finish, checkering, and engraving.

After the Marlin Firearms Co. bought Hunter Arms in 1945, Marlin retained the L. C. Smith Gun Co. name, and continued to manufacture the L. C. Smith shotgun on a limited basis until about 1949, when production finally ended after the manufacturing building collapsed. After this disaster, Marlin moved the L. C. Smith manufacturing equipment and parts to their New Haven factory, and resumed production for a brief time from 1967 to 1971. C.

Smith hammerless double is a simple, rugged design that remained nearly unchanged from 1886 to 1949. Author photos. Disassembly Instructions 1. Always begin by making sure the gun is not loaded. Start by grasping the gun around the buttstock at the wrist, all the while being careful to keep your fingers away from the triggers (#75). Be sure also to keep those muzzles pointed in a safe direction. Open the action by pushing the top-lever (#9) to the right and allowing the barrels (#1) to fall open.

If any shells are present, remove them now and take any live ammunition to a separate location. 2. To remove the barrels, forend, and trigger guard, close the barrels. You can remove the forend by pulling the front end of the wood down, away

from barrels, or by pushing the forend latch (if so equipped) and pulling the forend away from the barrels. Next, press the top-lever to the right, reopen the barrels, and lift the barrels off the action. Be careful not to pull the triggers; for now you will want to leave the hammers cocked. Next, unscrew and remove the trigger-guard screw (#49) and unscrew the trigger guard itself (#48) in a counter-clockwise direction. 3.

To remove the locks, unscrew and remove the lock-plate retaining screws (#38) from both the right and left sides of the gun, and unscrew the lock-plate connector screw (#39) from the right side of the gun. Both of the Smith’s locks can now be removed, swinging them out to the rear by lightly tapping the frame (#10) with a hardwood or plastic mallet to loosen them. Be careful while you do this that you do not trip the sears (#44 and #51.) 4. Removal of the the buttstock is fairly straightforward.

With the top-lever (#9) still to right, unscrew Once they are removed and the trigger plate dropped out, the stock can be lifted down and away from the frame. Be careful of the trip (top, far left). When you push the bolt out to the rear, be sure to hold your hand over the top of the action; the trip is spring loaded and it may pop up out of the frame. and remove the trigger-plate screw (#27).

Now turn the action over so you can unscrew and remove the trigger-plate retaining screws (#55 and #61.) Unscrew and remove the top-lever screw (#56). The trigger plate (#54) containing the trigger mechanism can now be lifted off the frame. During reassembly of the trigger plate to the stock and frame, it may be necessary to insert a strong, tapered punch into the bottom of the top-lever to move it back into alignment with the screw hole so it can go into the hole in the trigger plate.

L. C.

Smith Side-by-Side Shotgun 1 Barrels 2 Front Sight 3 Extractor 4 Extractor Screw 5 Trip 6 Bolt 7 Coupler 8 Coupler Screw 9 Top-Lever 10 Frame 11 Cocking Rod (2) 12 Forend Iron 13 Forend Spring Pin 14 Extractor Actuator Bar 15 Extractor Actuator 16 Extractor Actuator Pin 17 Extractor Actuator Spring 18 Rear Forend Screw (2) 19 Forend Spring 20 Forend Spring Retracting Spring 21 Forend Screw (2) 22 Forend 23 Trip Spring 24 Bolt Spring 25 Right Lifter 26 Firing Pin (2) 27 Trigger Plate Screw 28 Left Lifter 29 Safety Button and Pin 30 Safety Spring 31 Safety Spring Screw 32 Trigger Plate Screw Bushing 33 Grip Cap 34 Grip Cap Screw 35 Buttplate 36 Buttplate Screw (2) 37 Lockplate, right 38 Lockplate Retaining Screw (2) 39 Lockplate Connector Screw 40 Mainspring Retaining Screw (2) 41 Sear Pin 42 Mainspring (2) 43 Hammer, right 44 Sear, right 45 Bridle, right 46 Bridle Screw (4) 47 Hammer Pin (2) 48 Triggerguard 49 Triggerguard Screw 50 Lockplate, left 51 Sear, left 52 Bridle, left 53 Hammer, left 54 Trigger Plate 55 Trigger Plate Retaining Screw, front 56 Top-lever Screw 57 Trigger Pin 58 Selector 59 Safety Stud Screw 60 Safety Stud 61 Trigger Plate Retaining Screw, rear 62 Selector Spring 63 Selector Spring Screw 64 Sear Plate 65 Firing Plate 66 Spur Spring Screw 67 Recoil Weight Spring 68 Recoil Weight Pin 69 Recoil Weight 70 Spur Spring 71 Spur Link 72 Spur Link Pin (2) 73 Spur 74 Spur Ball 75 Trigger 76 Cocking Plate Screw 77 Cocking Plate

Extractor guns are less complicated, since they don’t have the spring-loaded hammers (at the left of the forend iron) and they don’t use a latch to lock the forend to the barrels like this one does. C. Smith side lock, shown disassembled, is simple and effective. 5. If necessary, the action can be disassembled further. The firing pins (#26) are pulled straight out the rear of the frame.

Place a punch against the long end of the bolt spring (#24) and a padded steel bar against frame on the opposite side of the spring, and use a C-clamp to take up the tension on the bolt spring. With the clamp still in place, remove the coupler screw (#8) and the coupler (#7), then pull the top-lever (#9) out the top of the receiver. Release the tension on the bolt spring. It is not necessary or even desirable to remove the bolt spring unless it is broken.

The bolt (#6) can be pushed out to the rear of the action, and the trip (#5) and trip spring (#23) can now be lifted out through the top of the action. 6. When disassembling the sidelock assembly, be sure to keep the left and right side locks and their parts separate from each other. Use a mainspring vise to compress the mainspring (#42). This will take the tension off the hammer (#43 or #53). Unscrew and remove the bridle screws (#46).

Finally, lift off the bridle (#45 or #52), the mainspring and vise, the sear (#44 or #51), and the hammer together. 7. To disassemble the barrels and forend, unscrew the extractor screw (#4) and withdraw the extractor(s) to the rear. Remove the two rear forend screws (#18) and the front forend screws (#21) or the lower forend screw on automatic-ejector guns. Further disassembly is not normally required for routine maintenance.

Conclusions It’s a good idea when disassembling any double gun to use three small parts containers. One should be marked "left," the other marked "right," and the third container should be used for parts that are not unique to either side. And, as always, you simply reverse the disassembly procedure for reassembly. ■

Antique/Replica Firearms Colt Model 1883 Hammerless Shotgun, Working the Feb 05 Remington Model 1875/1890 Revolver, Working the June 05 Remington Model 51, Disassembly/Reassembly of the Dec 05 Smith Double Shotgun, Breaking Down the L. C.

Dec 05 Winchester 1892 Rifle, Disassembly/Reassembly of the Sept 05 Walther P1/P38, Working the Sept 05 Winchester 1892 Rifle, Disassembly/Reassembly of the Sept 05 Reviews/Special Reports Ballester-Molina .45: Parts Replacement July 05 Caliber Conversions: The .400 Cor Bon & .460 Rowland Nov 05 Colt Government Model 1911: Parts Interchangeability Apr 05 Installing and Testing the Pac-Lite .22 Receiver Jan 05 Gun Clinic: The Case of the Lazy Slide Feb 05 Do-It-Yourself Projects Barrel Vise, The Improved Do-It-Yourself Mar 05 Buttstock-Attachment System, Making a Quick-Change Jan 05 Chamber-Neck Gauge, Making and Using a May 05 Custom Hammer Spur, Making a July 05 External Hammer Safety, Making and Installing an Aug 05 Locking-Lug/Bolt-Face Comparator, Making a June 05 Mini-Router for Installing Swivel Bases, Make a Dec 05 Receiver Wrenches and Adapters, Do-It-Yourself June 05 Editorials Constitutional Right to Hunt, The Feb 05 Firearm Industry Granted Consultative Role to U.

N. Dec 05 Gov.

Jeb Bush Signs Florida’s New Self-Defense Law Nov 05 NRA Disabled Shooting Services Enters Second Decade Mar 05 NRA Offers Free Disability-Awareness Book Sept 05 Optimism Remains High for Legal Reform May 05 Pro-Hunting Non-Profits Outperform Other Charities Apr 05 Project Child Safe on the Move June 05 SCTP Kicks Off New Season July 05 Senate Passes Reform to Stop ‘Junk’ Lawsuits Oct 05 Sportsmen‘s Voice Prevails in Elections Jan 05 Winners Announced in Annual Contests Aug 05 Gun-Servicing Features Beretta CX4 Storm, Disassembly and Reassembly of the July 05 Browning Hi-Power, Smoothing the Mar 05 Colt Model 1883 Hammerless Shotgun, Working the Feb 05 Crosman Power Master 760, Repairing and Restoring the Jan 05 Daewoo DP51, Assembly/Disassembly of the Feb 05 Kimber Custom II, Part 1, Profile of the May 05 Kimber Custom II, Part 2, Profile of the June 05 Lightning Pump-Action Rifle, Working the Mar 05 Marlin 900-Series Rimfire Rifles, Improving the July 05 Marlin Model 60, Avoiding Mistakes with the Apr 05 Para-Ordnance LDA Carry Companion, Part 2 Jan 05 Remington Model 1875/1890 Revolvers, Working the June 05 Remington Model 51, Disassembly/Reassembly of the Dec 05 Remington Model 504 Bolt-Action Rifle, Servicing the Mar 05 Ruger Mark III: A Disassembly/Reassembly Guide Oct 05 Savage Model 24, The Anatomy of the Nov 05 Sigarms P210-6, Disassembly and Reassembly of the Aug 05 Smith Double Shotgun, Breaking Down the L.

C. Dec 05 Taurus Double-Action Revolver, Smoothing the Aug 05 STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION (Required by 39 U. S. C. 3685). 1. Title of Publication: American Gunsmith 2. Publication No.: 0008-4530. 3. Filing Date: 9/30/05. 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly. 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 12. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $49.00 in U. S. 7. Known Office of Publication: Norwalk, CT 06854-1631. 8. Headquarters or General Business Office of the Publisher: Norwalk, CT Norwalk, CT 06854-5656. 9.

Publisher: AG Media, Inc., Norwalk, CT Norwalk, CT 06854-5656. Editor: Keith Lawrence, AG Media, Inc., Norwalk, CT Norwalk, CT 06854-5656. Managing Editor: AG Media, Inc., Norwalk, CT Norwalk, CT 06854-5656. 10. Owner: AG Media, Inc., Norwalk, CT 06854-1631. 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amounts of bonds, mortgages or other securities: None. 13. Title: American Gunsmith. 14.

Issue date Tech Topics Bolt Jeweling Fixtures Dec 05 Lewis Lead Remover Dec 05 Murray’s Vent Rib Tool Dec 05 Tools and Techniques Basic Repairs with Brownells Acraglas Nov 05 Chamfer Revolver Chamber Edges Dec 05 Convert the Browning Manual Safety to Automatic July 05 Converting Remington Safeties to Left-Hand Operation Sept 05 Dealing with Screwed-Up Screws Mar 05 Do-It-Yourself Receiver Wrenches and Adapters June 05 Firing Pins: Size Matters May 05 Getting Revolvers Right Feb 05 Give New Life to an Old Stock May 05 Gunstock Checkering: Beyond the Basics Nov 05 Gunstock Restoration and Refinishing Aug 05 Improved Do-It-Yourself Barrel Vise, The Mar 05 In-Shop Barrel Porting and Lapping–In One Process Oct 05 Jeweling Gun Parts June 05 Make a Mini-Router for Installing Swivel Bases Dec 05 Make that Converted MAS 1949-56 Work Right May 05 Making a Custom Hammer Spur July 05 Making a Locking-Lug/Bolt-Face Comparator June 05 Making a Quick-Change Buttstock-Attachment System Jan 05 Making and Installing an External Hammer Safety Aug 05 Making and Using a Chamber-Neck Gauge May 05 Oil-Finishing the Wooden Stock Feb 05 Poor Man’s Method for Scoping Ex-Military Rifles Jan 05 Problem Solving with ‘Slip-of-the-Step’ Ejectors Sept 05 Repairing Hammer Axles on S&W Revolvers Apr 05 Reworking the Beretta U22 Neos Trigger Oct 05 Scope-Mounting System for .22 Semi-Auto Handguns Oct 05 Simple Action Work on the Browning Hi-Power Nov 05 ‘Slicking Up’ the Kel-Tec Semi-Automatic Pistol Oct 05 Smoothing the Air-Pistol Trigger Mechanism Apr 05 Smoothing the Browning Hi-Power Mar 05 Smoothing the Taurus Double-Action Revolver Aug 05 Sporterizing the Mosin-Nagant Apr 05 Target Triggers for Top-Notch Shooters Sept 05 Troubleshooting a Troubled Carbine Aug 05 for circulation data 15.

Extent and Nature of Circulation (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months/ No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date): a. Total No. of Copies Printed (18725/18600) b. Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 1. Paid/ Requested Outside-County Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541 (17818/17564). 2. Paid In-County Subscriptions (0/0). 3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution (231/221). 4.

Other Classes Mailed Through USPS (0/0). c. Total Paid and/ or Requested Circulation (18049/17785). d. Free Distribution by Mail: 1. Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541 (317/414). 2. In-County as Stated on Form 3541 (0/0). 3. Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS (0/0). e. Free Distribution Outside the Mail (0/0). f. Total Free Distribution (317/414). g. Total Distribution (18366/18199). h. Copies not Distributed (381/401). i. Total (18747/18600). j. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (98%/98%). 17.

I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. Sr. VP of Circ.: Greg King 9/19/05.