I've only owned a few of the Nitro Specials over the years and every one of them has either been close to or dead on perfect as far as overall weight per gauge is concerned. I found that the NID and for that matter their Flues model as well that the weight per gauge are all over the scale, and although not as finely built, I like the Nitro Special for a field gun better then the other Ithaca models.
And Chuck I will never get tired of looking at that Nitro Special of yours!!!