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This is a 1948 .410 Ideal Grade with 'Belgium LLH' on the right barrel over-stamped with 'London Steel.'
Sanderson Steel was started in Sheffield, England in 1776 and Sanderson Bros. & Newbold Ltd. purchased a small crucible mill in Syracuse in 1876. They supplying Nitro and Crown fluid steel barrels to Hunter Arms starting in 1895, Armor in 1898, and Royal in 1901. Sanderson was one of 13 companies that formed Crucible Steel Co. in 1901.
Halcomb Steel Co. opened in Syracuse in 1904, and L.C. Smith was Chairman of the Board of Directors. Halcomb supplied London steel for 0 grades and Royal steel for the hammer guns starting in 1907. Crucible Steel bought Halcomb in 1911 and used London Steel on the post-1913 Ideal and Skeet Special.
Crucible purchased rough barrel tubes from Laurent Lochet-Habran of Belgium and the barrels may still have the 'LLH' trade mark after grinding and the final fit & finish.
'LLH' is found on Smith, Hunter Arms Fulton "Ranger" for Sears guns, Lefever, Fox, Baker (especially around 1907 and later Folsom guns), and Ithaca (especially the Lefever Nitro Special). Baker guns may be marked "Nitro Rolled Steel" and "Fluid Temper Steel."
For more information on Laurent Lochet-Habran and Belgium LLH
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