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< 16ga. Guns ~ L.C. Smith FW chamber length |
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Posted:
Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:48 pm
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Joined: 09 Apr 2009
Posts: 36
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I’ve recently acquired an L.C. Smith 16 ga. DT and extractors.
The serial number is FW198xxx.
I’ve been looking for a resource to confirm chamber length, but no luck. The serial # indicates made in 1942 so I believe it is 2 3/4”? |
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Posted:
Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:01 pm
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Joined: 30 Sep 2015
Posts: 640
Location: NEW SALISBURY INDIANA
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believe it or not, but take one of those all yellow magic markers, insert the bottom end into the chamber and you can measure it. |
_________________ 16ga 3-Win 37
16ga Ithaca 37 1946
16ga Western Auto Revelation
16ga Browning A-5 1929
16ga Marlin 90 1939
16ga browning citori lightning grade 3 2003
16ga Francisque Darne 1920 |
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Posted:
Thu Jun 29, 2023 5:43 am
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Member
Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Posts: 2016
Location: Glendale, AZ
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There is a great deal of information on the LCSCA FAQs
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=274&club_id=43784
L.C. Smith and Hunter Arms Fulton 16 gauge guns manufactured as late as 1939 have been found with 2 9/16" chambers.
There is an easy way to measure chamber length using a 3" x 5" index card, rolled lengthwise, and slid into the chamber. It will partially unroll and expand to the chamber diameter.
Gently advance the card until it stops at the end of the chamber (where the forcing cone constriction starts), use a pencil to mark the card at the breech end of the barrel, and repeat the steps to see if it always comes to same spot.
Then use a ruler to measure the length marked on the card.
The chamber must be clean, and it works best with a new 3” X 5” card. |
_________________ Drew Hause
http://sites.google.com/a/damascusknowledge.com/www/home |
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Posted:
Mon Jul 03, 2023 2:49 pm
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Joined: 06 Jan 2017
Posts: 88
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The chamber length question concerning American guns is confusing, because all the makers didn't change at the same time. And when they did change, they didn't change all their gauges at once. From what I've observed, there were short chambered 16ga Elsies being made after everyone else (or at least all the makers of classic doubles) had changed to 2 3/4".
There's a diagram in Brophy's Elsie book (p.228, Appendix C) showing both 12ga and 16ga chamber length. 12 is 2.75". 16 is 2.5625". The diagram is dated 4-6-38. |
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