doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca/SKB 20ga. "Quail Special"

Some 20+ years ago, Ithaca imported SKB doubles, and an interesting one was the 20 gauge "Quail Special." I got one then, and still have it.

It is a single trigger, straight grip, with 25-inch barrels, choked (I think) IC/IC.

I have heard that this model is favored by NE grouse hunters. Being a Louisiana guy, I don't know about that, but I know I can't hit anything with it. The fit is wrong. Well, that's what I'm blaming it on. <grin>

I was unable to find any of these guns listed on the various gun selling sites or the "for sale" section here. I'd appreciate direction to a location where I can get a rough idea of the value, or demand, or pretty much anything else about this one.

The one I have is is quite good shape. As I recall, it came with black chrome finish rather than a blued metal treatment.

Thanks for the help.

Tom

Tom,

I feel your pain! I had one about 10 years ago. I shot two dismal rounds of skeet with it and that was it!!I sold it at the Wannemacher show in Tulsa for $650.00 I had people trying to fight over it because it was light and a 20 gauge and a quail special....big deal.I bet you could get $1300.00 to $1500 if it's decent. Everybody's so ate up with 6 pound guns!!!

Ken

I had one and sold it back in the 80's to get a Win Model 23 28 gauge. I believe I got about $500 back then. I always shot it quite well, but I kept my BSS Sporter 20 over the Ithaca 280E because my buddy's Ithaca had started getting a little loose. The Browning is a little heavier than the Ithaca, but it is still my favorite gun.

I've owned two with 25" tubes and still do one with 28"ers. Those short tubes don't swing or follow through on crossing shots. They are strictly for snap shots. I hated them and sold them both a few years ago. One for 650 and the other for 750. Kept the 28" gun and it is an entirely different beast. Wish they made 20's with 30" tubes. You'll probably get 12-1500 for your gun --- and it is the grouse guys who will love it. Chopper

The gun looks around $1,000 in Roy's auction reports. I think the 12ga SKBs are among the best buys, real sleepers in the market. The single plane of my 20ga o/u and fit makes it my go-to gun; I do better with it in the field than any other. There are no flies on the workmanship. But if yours doesn't fit, get rid of it.

Tom, a friend of mine just bought one exactly like yours, 20ga IC/IC. He paid $1300 for a gun in excellent condition--very few minor marks in the wood. I'd say that's a pretty fair ballpark price for one of those. The ones that are choked IC/IC are less common, I think, than IC/M. Grouse and quail hunters seem to seek them out. Put my buddy's gun on a digital scale, and it's a bit under 6#, which is pretty light for a 20 with a big beavertail like the 280 has. Too bad they didn't make that gun with a splinter forend--they really would have had a lightweight.

Tom, i shot one for several years in the seventies and it was a deadly bird gun for me! Wish i had kept it! Bobby