Cole,
Before hard core collectors take a shot at you, why don't you check and see how much value you're giving up with a restoration.
It would look pretty nice.
I restored a 1st yr mfg Ithaca 37R (1940 IIRC) with solid rib. Metal was pretty good, wood was solid but pretty ratty looking. I slightly reshaped it in the restoration to fit my uses, added a Decelerator pad, recut the checkering and it ended up looking pretty good.
You wouldn't believe the scolding I took from some guys over on the Shotgunworld, Ithaca Forum.
I had bought the gun pretty cheap, less than $300. maybe even $275, just don't remember. I finally got enough of them, one in particular, and wrote that if it was a valuable gun it would have cost more than it did. I think that made them even madder. They want to buy those old pre-war 37's dirt cheap then throw a fit if someone upgrades one.
If this Smith isn't a high dollar piece, fix it up...
Then, show us photos.
DF
