LC Smith 16 ga price check...

[tex_n_cal]

I recently saw a decent LC Smith 16 ga Field grade. The condition was mechanically pretty good - it locked up tight as a bank. The bores need cleaning, but they looked okay. Some traces of case color on the action. One side plate had picked up some rust at one time or another.

The buttstock I believe had been shortened - it checked 13.5" length of pull. Whoever did the work did a nice job, they re-fitted the original buttplate to the stock.

Price was $600. Seems hard to beat for a good shooting 16 ga double. Opinions?

 

[Detritus]

you'd give a guy $600 for a 16ga!! shoot man where do i send it to?? i got a Lefever A grade right here........

just kidding. i can't think of much, short of a choice of that or death, that could get me to sell mine, it's been in the family since it was new in 1935, and has a "history and a "story".

personally i think the prices have been inflated a bit by the increase in interest in Cowboy action shooting in recent years. (and i'm a CAS shooter) some of them guys just can't fathom buying a NON-US made SxS and that means it's old guns only. so the prices on shootable SxS have gone up.

i don't know what Doubles are going for in your area, i DO know that I personally have not found a used american Double in MY area that i would be willing to shoot after paying the price wanted. i'd rather pay $325 for a NIB brazilian made stoeger than, $5-600 for a used and possibly abused american made SxS, that even IF i find parts for when it breaks, those parts are gonna be STEEP.

if it sounds good to you go for it.

but if you're simply after a 16ga SxS look around at the used racks to see if somehow a 16ga Stoeger has come in. untill recently the stoeger "uplander" was still being made in 16. but it's been dropped from the catalog.

maybe just maybe there'll be a "Sixteen Gauge Renesiance" now that Remington has brought the 16ga 870 back out. and we'll get some decent loadings that don't make shooting a nice upland style SxS feel like a Rigby dangerous game rifle!!

 

[Dave McCracken]

Doable, but a few things to check...

Those bores might need more than cleaning. Ask the owner if he would mind cleaning them. If he balks, it's pitting and not just dirt.

Besides tight, close the thing and hold it by the barrels and grip,twist your hands and see if there's slop.

Dismount the barrels and hold them with a pinch grip on the lug. Tap the barrels lightly with a pencil or other non marring tool. If the barrels ring like a bell, fine, a thud, the barrels are coming unsoldered. BIG prob....

Also, many older guns are chambered for ammo shorter than that used today. In 16 gauge, 2 9/16" was standard. Firing longer shells in these is neither fun nor safe. Correcting this is possible, but the price should reflect it.

I recommend that if you do get it, have a good smith check it out BEFORE you load and fire it. And have the smith or prior owner go over takedown procedures,the Elsies have a few moves that are different.

Besides the CAS folks, there's been a renewal of interest in the old doubles, many of which are superb shotguns for the uplands or waterfowl. A 16 like this(Assuming good condition and compatable with modern ammo) is close to optimum for the uplands.

HTH...