Old L C Smith

ligonierbill · January 16, 2015, 08:57 PM

I have an 1894 Elsie 12 ga with what appear to be Damascus barrels. It's in pretty good shape and functional with the exception of one missing firing pin. Numrich has the firing pin, and I'm thinking of getting the old girl shooting again. I don't load shotshells, but blackpowder ammo is available. Any experience with shotguns of this era?

Doyle · January 16, 2015, 09:18 PM

Even with blackpowder shells, it is imperative that you get those barrels checked and cleared by a competent gunsmith. By competent, I'm meaning one that specifically deals with damascus barrels. Those barrels can degrade from the inside and still look fine on the outside. Better to spend a little money now than to risk loosing your eyes or worse.

ligonierbill · January 16, 2015, 09:25 PM

Oh, I'll get her checked for sure. It seems to be an ongoing debate on the net as to the safety of these things. I just wonder if someone on this forum is shooting one or knows of folks that are.

eastbank · January 17, 2015, 08:07 AM

i shoot bp 12ga shotgun shells,but not in wire wound barrels, i load them on a old mec 600 as i don,t need more than a few boxes a year and they are fun to hunt small game and just a effective as smokeless shells with in the chokes range. eastbank.

mattL46 · January 18, 2015, 11:58 AM

I can't help with shooting one but I've been around a few. My dad had an old ithaca that was Damascus. One point of advice is to be sure of the chamber dimensions. Some of those old gals were shorter than 2-3/4. You may already know this. I'm not sure of the time frame of these shorter chambers but your Elsie is getting back there.

FITASC · January 19, 2015, 08:38 PM

IF the gun is deemed sound, then go have fun. I know several folks who shoot guns pre-1900 for fun on a regular basis.

Check out The Vintagers:

http://www.vintagers.org/

Dreaming100Straight · January 19, 2015, 11:37 PM

If it is deemed sound by someone who is competent to examine Damascus barrels.

ligonierbill · January 28, 2015, 05:17 PM

To close this out, I decided not to fire this old girl. I used to be a metallurgist (when I made an honest living), and I realized that the only way to detect internal flaws would be radiography, or maybe pulsed eddy current. Not worth it. Think I'll clean her up, remove the one firing pin remaining, and hang her on the wall.

Dreaming100Straight · January 28, 2015, 06:03 PM

Good call.

January 16, 2015, 08:57 PM	#1
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	Old L C Smith I have an 1894 Elsie 12 ga with what appear to be Damascus barrels. It's in pretty good shape and functional with the exception of one missing firing pin. Numrich has the firing pin, and I'm thinking of getting the old girl shooting again. I don't load shotshells, but blackpowder ammo is available. Any experience with shotguns of this era?

January 16, 2015, 09:18 PM	#2
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Even with blackpowder shells, it is imperative that you get those barrels checked and cleared by a competent gunsmith. By competent, I'm meaning one that specifically deals with damascus barrels. Those barrels can degrade from the inside and still look fine on the outside. Better to spend a little money now than to risk loosing your eyes or worse.

January 16, 2015, 09:25 PM	#3
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	Oh, I'll get her checked for sure. It seems to be an ongoing debate on the net as to the safety of these things. I just wonder if someone on this forum is shooting one or knows of folks that are.

January 17, 2015, 08:07 AM	#4
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	i shoot bp 12ga shotgun shells,but not in wire wound barrels, i load them on a old mec 600 as i don,t need more than a few boxes a year and they are fun to hunt small game and just a effective as smokeless shells with in the chokes range. eastbank.

January 18, 2015, 11:58 AM	#5
mattL46 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2013 Posts: 656	I can't help with shooting one but I've been around a few. My dad had an old ithaca that was Damascus. One point of advice is to be sure of the chamber dimensions. Some of those old gals were shorter than 2-3/4. You may already know this. I'm not sure of the time frame of these shorter chambers but your Elsie is getting back there.

January 19, 2015, 08:38 PM	#6
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	IF the gun is deemed sound, then go have fun. I know several folks who shoot guns pre-1900 for fun on a regular basis. Check out The Vintagers: http://www.vintagers.org/

January 19, 2015, 11:37 PM	#7
Dreaming100Straight Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Posts: 1,235	If it is deemed sound by someone who is competent to examine Damascus barrels.

January 28, 2015, 05:17 PM	#8
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	To close this out, I decided not to fire this old girl. I used to be a metallurgist (when I made an honest living), and I realized that the only way to detect internal flaws would be radiography, or maybe pulsed eddy current. Not worth it. Think I'll clean her up, remove the one firing pin remaining, and hang her on the wall.

January 28, 2015, 06:03 PM	#9
Dreaming100Straight Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Posts: 1,235	Good call.