LC Smith Complexity

BBarn · January 16, 2018, 05:12 PM

I have an old LC Smith (Hunter Arms, Grade 2E) that my grandfather gave me long ago. He was a gunsmith and warned me not to disassemble it because it was very difficult to reassemble. (If I remember correctly, the difficulty related to the hammer springs and/or lockwork).

The gun is well worn and has had some unfortunate cosmetic "updates" that I might consider correcting or at least lessening. But to do some of that would require disassembly of the stock from the action to do a decent job.

So I would like to first determine how difficult these are to work on, and how delicate they might be. For example, I see the stock is rather thin in the areas above and below the sideplates. So, is this a gun that would best be not take apart?

Oliver Sudden · January 16, 2018, 09:29 PM

This is a side lock gun and the locks can be taken out while cocked. To disassemble the lock you need a main spring vice. The top lever spring can by a problem but to remove the stock you needn't take that spring out but the bottom end of the top lever fits into the trigger plate and again can be difficult to replace correctly. Consider taking it to a gunsmith for disassembly then back to him for reassembly after your work. Your grand father gave good advice!

BBarn · January 17, 2018, 04:09 PM

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and advice. I'm now considering what I might be able to do without disassembly.

**4V50 Gary** · January 18, 2018, 11:07 PM

Without going to the (physical) library in the next room, this is what I could find:

January 16, 2018, 05:12 PM	#1
BBarn Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2015 Posts: 887	LC Smith Complexity I have an old LC Smith (Hunter Arms, Grade 2E) that my grandfather gave me long ago. He was a gunsmith and warned me not to disassemble it because it was very difficult to reassemble. (If I remember correctly, the difficulty related to the hammer springs and/or lockwork). The gun is well worn and has had some unfortunate cosmetic "updates" that I might consider correcting or at least lessening. But to do some of that would require disassembly of the stock from the action to do a decent job. So I would like to first determine how difficult these are to work on, and how delicate they might be. For example, I see the stock is rather thin in the areas above and below the sideplates. So, is this a gun that would best be not take apart?

January 18, 2018, 11:07 PM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	Without going to the (physical) library in the next room, this is what I could find: __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

January 16, 2018, 09:29 PM	#2
Oliver Sudden Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 272	This is a side lock gun and the locks can be taken out while cocked. To disassemble the lock you need a main spring vice. The top lever spring can by a problem but to remove the stock you needn't take that spring out but the bottom end of the top lever fits into the trigger plate and again can be difficult to replace correctly. Consider taking it to a gunsmith for disassembly then back to him for reassembly after your work. Your grand father gave good advice!

January 17, 2018, 04:09 PM	#3
BBarn Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2015 Posts: 887	Thank you for sharing your knowledge and advice. I'm now considering what I might be able to do without disassembly.