doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Identifying and appraising Ithaca shotguns

I know they have had quite a history and many, many guns have been made. I've visited the factory in Ithaca twice with my dad and I still don't know half the story. I've looked through a few posts here and there certainly seems to be some experts here. Maybe I can get some long sought help. My father left me a few Ithaca shotguns. I would like to try to find out more about them. One is a double barrel side by side 12ga. SN272873. When I've tried to look it up I get conflicting information that the serial number could mean it is a 1916 Flues model, a 1898 Sidelock model (which sounds like something I would be able to easily identify, but I'm not 100% certain what a sidelock is) or a 1928 Lefever Nitro Special, but the lefever that I have says lefever on it so I'm thinking this one isn't a lefever. Anyone know by SN what this gun is?

I believe you stumbled into the right bar. There is a patron has a drink here occasionally name of Walt. He's usually a pretty agreeable fellow. I 'magin he can help ya. Puttin' that word Ithaca on the thread'l usually attract his attention.

Regards, Jake

That gun could only be a 1916 Flues Model, unless it is marked Lefever. I don't know whee you got the 1898 sidelock.. Value, assuming it's a Field Grade, $200 to $800, depending on condition,, If its a Sousa grade, much, much more.. IF you have more than 1 Ithaca, you need Walt Snyder's Book..MDC

If you have a digital camera and can take some good closeups of the action and stock, then send them to me, I can post them for you. That will help with the ID of the guns and their valuation.

Thanks, it's good to be among friends.

I doubt if it is a very high grade, it's not ornamental or fancy at all, and that just wouldn't have been my great uncle john anyway. He was as likely to use the stock to drown a fox as he was to shoot from the dangerous end. (true story, he ran out of shells after wounding a fox. When he caught up to it, it was still kickin, he had to drown it to finish it off. It sounds terrible but when he told the story, the whole hunting camp would be in tears. I do have a couple. Do you know where to get the book and how much I should expect to pay?

Your lab has seduced me to the dark side. Yes, I have a good camera and I would be glad to send some pics. I'll have to see if clicking on your screen name gives me an email address. Otherwise, mine is RTZ1516@yahoo.com
Thank you for your offer to help. I appreciate it.

Walts book can be purchased on this site.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/snyder_w_ithaca_2nd.htm

My email address can be found by double clicking my name and viewing my profile. It's spurshooter@verizon.net

Subgauge, You can also purchase the book directly from Walt: wsnyder@pinehurst.net. He will autograph it for you if you ask him to. I guarantee that you will enjoy the book.