Custom Smith Carbine

This custom Smith Carbine was completed by David Stavlo. We originally purchased it as a heavily used Pietta reproduction. David reworked the gun from top to bottom by first removing all the modern markings from the receiver and barrel. Then, the incorrectly-shaped Pietta hammer was replaced with a custom copy of an original Smith hammer that was made specifically for this project. Correct serial numbers and sub inspector markings were added to the frame and barrel using dies that were copied off originals from the period. 

 

The receiver and hammer were color case hardened using the traditional 19th Century "pack hardening" method. This is the only way to achieve appropriate colors. Pack hardening (or bone-charcoal color case hardening as it's sometimes called) is fairly difficult to master and few shops are able to do it, but it is absolutely necessary to correctly build or restore most pre-20th Century guns. These parts were case hardened in-house, as is all of our case hardening.

The barrel and butt plate were slow rust blued, while the stock collar, trigger guard, trigger, top strap and barrel band were charcoal blued. The screws were nitre blued. These are the original finishes as applied to original Smith carbines and, to our knowledge, this is the first Smith to ever be replicated with all correct finishes.

The dents were steamed out of the stocks and the butt plate was re-profiled and refit. Both stocks were re-shaped to the correct dimensions finished using linseed oil; again, just like the original guns. A correct inspector's cartouche was applied to the wrist.

The front and rear sights were replaced with a set of our custom-machined reproductions and the action was tuned for competition. 

The finished product is a museum quality piece that would be an ideal shooter or collector's piece.