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(adapted from Frank Finch’s Wishes
Do Come True, Volume 2, Issue
3, L.C. Smith Speaks for Itself)
One of the
pillars of The L.C. Smith Collectors Association’s mission statement is to “Stimulate and educate members
and the public in their knowledge of the history and production of the L.C.
Smith shotgun”. Most of the serial numbers of L.C. Smith shotguns crafted
in Fulton, NY are available. However, serial numbers from the company’s
beginning through 1888 are not available. According to Col. Brophy in L.C.
Smith Shotguns , information is missing on the estimated
9,491 W.H. Baker guns (two and three barrel guns) and 6,223 for
L.C. Smith shotguns made in Syracuse, NY. Nearly 16,000 early
guns are without factory records!
With
your help and the very generous offer of two of our members,
a data base will be created that will provide knowledge about
these great early shotguns. Daryl Hallquist and Russ Ruppel started
to gather data on these early guns from all willing to provide
information. Both were collecting information on guns in their
respective areas for years. Daryl continues to capture information
on the W.H. Baker Company, W.H. Baker, Baker, and L.C. Smith Maker
of Baker Guns. Russ concentrated on the L.C. Smith hammer and
hammerless guns made in Syracuse. The serial number range was about
10,000 to 22,500, and "Syracuse,
NY" was marked on the barrel top.
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