doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Western Arms long range gun

While visiting my brother this weekend I discovered he has a Western Arms 'long range gun' 12ga double that I once owned. It was purchased new by my uncle then went to my dad,me,my nephew and now my brother. The gun lived in closets almost all of it's life so it's in almost 100% condition. The case colored receiver is like new. The coloring seems to be all grey and black in kind of a repetetive pattern. I know these were low cost guns so did they have some cheap way of doing the receiver finish? Being made in the Ithaca plant it has the neat old sunburst pad labeled Ithaca. I shot some trap with it and found it to be a good shooter. Single trigger and full and fuller choked.

I believe cyanide was used in the coloring process, which produced the colors you see, plus reducing the cost.

The Western Long Range was Ithaca's effort to produce an even less expensive gun than the Lefever Nitro Special. In fact, it's basically a Nitro Special with various cost-saving measures. Not fancy, but reliable.

A good gun. Yes, cyanide was used in coloring and they can have a grayish look to them.
The guns are very similar to the nitro specials, but utilize some different parts in regards to bolting and the trip assemblies.
It does not make too much sense to me why the mechanical differences in these guns from the nitros. They are not really any less complicated or lower quality than the nitros. Just plain different.

It is not too uncommon to find these guns fitted with single triggers or even ejectors at times.

The Long Range Double frame was mallable iron and I don't think the Nitro Special was mallable iron.
That said, I had one, used it on doves with field loads with good success but traded it off eventually because of the frame material.
Many of these guns had well used histories and supplied a fine low cost double for the American shotgunner.
Single trigger would be a rarity in my opinion, please Post some pics.-Dick

The cynide case colors --

Researcher, the photo you posted shows the same color and pattern of case coloring as the gun I posted about. On this gun the worker whose job it was to "stamp" the dog on the side of the receiver didn't have the tool quite vertical and the lower portion of the dog is very light, no legs.
LH

The photo that Dave posts above is a bit of a rarety in regards to the dog I think. Many that I have seen are fairly light and unevenly stamped. Nitro specials are like this as well with their flying duck.

The malleable iron receiver was a cost-cutting measure, and seemed to hold up fine. Other corners cut, like no checkering. With no bottom tang, these guns are quite easy to convert to straight grip. Had that done to a nice 20ga once, and the stock and forend checkered. Came out very well.

It has long been my belief the frame of the Western Arms was Mallable iron as Dick said & that the frame of the Nitro Special was Forged Steel. This should "I Think" technically make the NS a stronger gun, but don't recall hearing of anyone having a problem with a WA due to the frame.