I don’t think this really fits this site, yet it’s a breach loader, and close to a single shot. 


I’m not sure if this is actually the right place to ask my next question. I have an Ithaca side-by-side 12-gauge shotgun. It’s a pre-1930’s shotgun, it may even be pre-1920’s. It was my grandfathers, then my dads and now it’s mine. I’ve driven myself crazy trying to research on the internet the model or anything that I can find about the shotgun. The shotgun only has the serial number on it. It has etched in the metal “Ithaca Gun Company, Ithaca NY”. The barrel has etched in it “smokeless Powder Steel”. There is a “hunting dog” etched in the metal above where it says “Ithaca Gun Company, Ithaca NY”. Does anyone have any suggestions on a link or site that may be of some help. Or someone that has existences knowledge on Ithaca. It still shoots very well. One barrel is full choke and the other is semi-choke. It has 2 triggers one for each barrel. I could not find a site that catered to Ithaca owners. I appreciate any help.

Better yet try this URL, it was the second on Google under "Ithaca Double Shotgun"

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Froggie

froggie,

         Second thought, as I look at that site again. Since the shotgun was made by Ithaca, I would bet instead of 1912, it's serial number also falls in the 1925 range. This might be the first of that batch of shotguns that they came out with after the new owners of that time took over.

I've owned several Ithaca double barrel shotguns. Ithaca made several models of actions over the years, the best and most desirable action is called the "Knickerbocker" which can be identified by the round bolt that locks into a rectangular hole in the barrel extension. The round bolt was like the bolt on an L.C. Smith, and takes up wear to keep the barrels tight. These were made in Models from #1 to I believe #8. Grade #4 and above are the good ones. As I recall the grades over #5 have gold inlays. The knickerbocker action was used for both the doubles and single barrel trap guns. As I remember they started about serial number 125,000.

Bob

Hey All!

Sharps1874,

What does the pistol grip look like?

I have two old Flues doubles... dated (by serial #s)  1921 and the other 1911. The older one has a different pistol grip compaired to the later Flues. The later Flues has a grip cap on the pistol grip while the 1911 has a round bottem grip, no cap. Both are boxlocks.

I gotta run to work right now but will have a closer look at them when I get home.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, maybe I can hlep.

Regards,

Darryl

Green Frog was right !   Go to gunshop.com and ask for help.  You;ll find that Waly Snyder resides there and he (really) wrote the book on Ithaca guns.  There are also others there that can and will be happy to help you.   ken

I might mention that the price for the Ithaca Grade IV with Grade VI wood at the Grand American was an astronomical $350.00!! To put that in the proper prospective, it would be about $3500 today, so you can see a young man's reluctance to spend that kind of money at that time.

Dale53

Sharps 1874,
You've got a nice little piece of firearms history there, and a connection to the single shot world that most don't realise. Emil Flues, the designer of the Ithaca Flues, was one of the premier custom Schuetzen rifle makers in the late 1800's to early 1900's, prior to going to work for Ithaca.
Flues was secretary of a Schuetzen club in Bay City, Mi. and built many of the rifles used by members who shot in that region. 
Like most of the custom target rifle builders, Flues reworked the popular rifles of the time, such as Ballards and Hi Walls. Unlike many custom builders, Flues did every aspect of the custom rifles he built. He barreled, stocked, and even engraved the guns he made. He was a true craftsman, and all his guns looked as good as they shot.
While working at Ithaca Flues remained in private business building custom built side by side shotguns of the highest quality. He had a constant waiting list of customers for his shotguns, right up to the day he died around 1949 at age 90.