doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com ithaca flues refinishing question.

I have a 1910 ithaca flues field grade that im getting the stock repaired. The question I have is that I would like the finish to be like it was when it was original. Can anyone tell me what type of finish would have been used on a field grade?

lacquer
bill

I would guess varnish or shellac.

A couple of coats of a good spraying lacquer should do it. The company used DiPont Duco but that is no longer made. I believe high grades were oiled.

Thanks for the info.

This may sound like a dumb question but the man that is doing the finish on my stock want's to know what colour I would like the oil finsh to be? Is there a chart of the differnt colours and the names of the colours?

In 1910 the factory finish would have been shellac. Nitroucellulose lacquer was not developed until the 1920s and did not see common use until around the 1930s. I read somewhere that Winchester began using lacquer in about 1933 and assume that Ithaca probably adopted it around the same time.

When I talk to the man on the phone he said that he has removed the oil out of the stock and made the repair. He said that if I decide to put lacquer on the way it is right now. That it will be to light and I wouldn't be happy with the way it would turn out. To get some ideas, what type of finsh would you all recommend?

I think he just wants to know how red you want him to stain it...Geo

Shellac

Now my 2 cents. Actually free, personal opinion, and not really worth two cents.
I've refinished a few Fluesettes. I have found the unstained woods to be too light, and of course, by and large very plain in the field grades.
Also, if the stock is not reattached firmly, the 12's will break off the top of the stock at the top of the right shoulder. I must have a half dozen missing that chunk.

My advice would be to show your gunsmith a stock of a tone you like, and then have him match it.
Do not over finish (build too much film) with a Flues. They look stupid that way. They are not Citori's. Field grade Flues models have lots of open grain, and not much sheen. Thinly finished.

The Shellac can be toned as applied to take you to the color you wish. And shellac is soluble in denatured alcohol.

It's a personal preference of course, you may want a thick poly finish. But to me, as simple shotguns, the thin simple finish of the field grade Flues have a particular charm.