The LC Smith may have a replaced butt stock as well. The wood around the lock (ears) isn't shaped as an LCS would be,,in fact it's been shaped like the Knickerbocker with a small teardrop style point. The 2 screw grip cap isn't LCS. But I have to say from what I can see in the pics it looks lie a nice job of (re) stocking both fore and aft if in fact it is.
A 'Field' grade (or 'O' grade if pre 1913). They were made in Standard weight frame and a featherweight frame. Standard frame ser# started with 'R' (regular) , Featherweight frame guns with 'FW' .
Looks like a 'R' frame gun to me.
Ejectors were available, most seen have plain extractors. Ejector guns would have an 'E; prefix added in the ser# prefix. Regular frames 'RExxx'. Featherweights 'FWExxx'.
A 16ga LCS may have 2 9/16" chambers depending on the era of mfg. Not a big deal really as short shells are available from several makers here in the USA by mail order,
LCSmiths are quality US made shotguns and have a great following. They were made into the 50's when MArlin owned the rights. Then reintro'd by them again in the early 70's with a not so well recv'd short lived version.
There are collectors forums for LCS and older shotguns in general that can give lots of info on these.
Go to the LCSmith table on this page and look up the ser# for a yr/mfg on the gun.
LCS is listed down the page..also watch the LCS ser#'s carefully as they jump around somewhat and are gauge specific in some instances, especially 16ga! But you should be able to zone in on the right era and find the yr.
Double Barreled Shotguns, High Grade Shotgun dates of production doublegunshop.com - shotgun gun firearm SxS Side-by-side
The Cresent Mfg guns were made under a couple dozen or more different names,,Knickerbocker being one. The Cresent Guns generally haven't gotten much attention from collectors or even shooters but that seems to be changing of late. Some are put together pretty well for what they were offered up as (catalog and hardware store guns) and high condition, small bore (16,20, 410ga) guns do seem to be finally getting some interest. But the $$ values are still way below what comparable 'name' brands are.
If the 16ga shell won't chamber.. Measure the chamber, bore dia's if you can. Even a simple caliper can give you a very good idea of chamber dia at the breech. Check specs against standard chamber specs listed on something like the SAAMI site or other shotgun mechanic sites. Sure looks like a 16 in the pic,,a 20ga shell is probably too small but try it anyway to see if it is way too loose just to get that option out of the way.
Also chamber rust or old dried into place oil and cloth like patch flannel can block the shell from chambering smoothly The latter I've found on a couple older guns that were put away with good intentions years ago and just needed to be scrubbed out.
Again short chambers, 2 9/16 in 16ga or 2 1/2 in 20ga may be in place. They were the norm when these things were made. MAny have been altered & lengthened, many have not and have been shot with 2 3/4" shells with no ill effects. Check the old guns over carefully before use and even then use lower pressure loads in deference to their age and unkn history.
Most over the counter shotshell loads are loaded to the top of SAAMI pressure specs to make sure customers semiautos work, so a 'lowbrass' shell means nothing as far as low pressure. You can bet it's right up there. That's why most people that shoot the oldies handload for them to get what they want.
