doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca sxs sweet 16

Hello, all!

Just picked up my first double gun. It is an Ithaca lefever nitro special in 16 gauge and needs some work. Very cool gun, all the parts are working, but the stock is a little chewed around the action, the front forearm won't stay on (though the spring works), and it is missing a few screws. Trying to figure out whether to try to figure it out, whether to buy new furniture for it, or whether to let her go to someone more well versed. Love these things either way... And hoping to learn from you guys here!

I realize posting photos here is a PITA but there�s a tutorial

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=148935#Post148935

Welcome to the board!

Steve

It depends on what direction you are going. Is this the start of a double gun collection or?

If it is then every dollar you pump into this Nitro Special you've lost to buy another because you cannot get your money back out of it. I pumped money into mine because I knew I was just going to use and hunt with this one so I didn't care how much I spent keeping this one going. Its also a sweet sixteen Nitro Special weighing in at slightly over 6 pounds.


And in this day and age you have to think about the logistics of the sixteen gauge, they ain't good. If you are only going to hunt close to home then you're fine, if not, you have to have a plan.

Here's mine. Giving me good service over most of my life.

Fasteddy, Welcome to the forum.

Treblig1958 wrote, �And in this day and age you have to think about the logistics of the sixteen gauge, they ain't good. If you are only going to hunt close to home then you're fine, if not, you have to have a plan.�

Very true words.
Most of my hunting life I held the 16 GA in distain. Nine years ago someone put a #2 AyA in my hands and I fell in love. I had no idea that the gun was a 16 GA until after handling it for about 5 minutes.

I bought it and them discovered that Shotgun shells for the gauge were limited in both selection and availability. Not a problem, I reload.

I that discovered that available hulls were not anywhere near as good as my lifetime supply of Winchester AA in gauges 12 and 20.

Problem solved. I reload RMC all brass hulls and when I leave home for hunting trips I take my reloading tools, components and powder along in a small wooden box. I reload used shells after the hunt. Simple hand tools are all that is required.



RMC brass hulls can be loaded with any published gauge appropriate recipe for straight walled hulls. The finished product has given me the best patterning shot shells that I have ever had.



Fasteddy, if you choose to restore and use the gun for hunting, the above is to let you know that there are alternatives to 16 GA ammo dilemma.

Now that's what I call a PLAN.

Hey, I've got one of those!



I can't say I have been using mine my whole life, as I just got it this year. But, I've had several different versions of this gun, and, like the old timers like to point out, they go "Boom" when you pull the trigger.

Good points made by the others, I have made the mistake of not bringing enough ammunition when I brought a 16 gauge to South Dakota. I did bring an extra 12 along, and plenty for that gun, so, all was not lost. I wouldn't put a bunch of money into a Nitro because they aren't worth much, but, if you can get it running for slim coin, it might make a handy everyday gun, and be a good addition to whatever other guns you have in the safe.

You get a lot for your money with a Nitro, if it hasn't lead a really hard existance. The later 2 3/4" marked guns can be fed just about anything, if they came with open chokes. The original chokes are marked on the flats of the barrels, mine are 0 and 2, or, cylinder and modified. The front trigger is not solidly mounted and will "articulate", so you don't get a bruise when you pull the back trigger and the gun recoils. The design uses coil springs, and doesn't require frequent maintenance. Perfect guns to leave in a case behind the seat in the truck, and stomp the little WMA you drive past on the way home from work, looking for a rooster or two.



Most look like they were rode hard, and put away wet. Because, they were. And, the great majority of those guns will still be working. I think mine was purchased, put away in a closet, and just forgotten about for 60 years or so, and, with 26" barrels, it is a remarkably good handling gun considering what it is, a totally entry level, low grade shooter. Our own Ken61 reblued the rusty barrels, and I suppose it will be good for another 100 years or so of pleasant use.

Check Numrich Arms for the missing parts, I haven't had any luck with them for parts I've needed, but, they do have pretty clear illustrated breakdowns of guns on their site. Welcome aboard, and hopefully this isn't your last good double.


Best,
Ted

Welcome to the site. I'll also invite you to go over to 16ga.com and join there. If there's something to be known about the 16ga, it'll be there.

I am picking up my 1st 16 gauge tomorrow morning in preparation for my hunt in SD the second week of November. Actually, it is my second 16. The first was an Ithaca Model 37 pump that I traded for this NID with 28 inch barrels and a beautiful orange starburst pad on it. It is a non ejector, double trigger model that was previously owned by the gun/outdoor writer Stephen Bodio from Magdalena, NM. Not sure how it is choked but I am thinking it is maybe Mod/Full. If it is I may have the chokes opened a bit after SD.

Good luck in South Dakota. Give us a run down on how it was when you get back.

Perry,
It would appear that Mr. Bodio has been littering the board with his castoffs:



At the time he ordered his new Darne slug gun, the subject of the Double Gun Journal piece titled "21st Century Jungle Gun", I accepted an old (1946 vintage) R10 12 gauge he owned, in trade. Inspite of being the importer for Darne for a decade and a half, I never got around to ordering a gun for myself, and the restock of this gun, from a demi-pistolet to a straight stock, in St Etienne, while I watched, was as close as I got. Someone in the gun's past took out most of the choke, and gave it a backbore, but, I have used it with the Cylinder and Improved cylinder chokes it has now to good effect on pheasants and grouse since I got it finished, before 9/11.

Importing guns and ammunition was a lot more fun, pre 9/11, but, I digress.

I've used the gun a lot, the sling is particularly handy when you have an old dog, or, Father, that needs some help getting out of the woods. I would sling the Darne and carry my Dad's Silver Snipe for him, when he got tired, during the last few years of his life. I also had a Gordon that was still hunting at age 14, and a few times I carried him out of the woods, with the Darne slung.

It was preferable to leaving either of them at home.

I haven't spoken to Steve in a few months, he was running up against some health issues related to aging, and sold quite a few of his guns, but, was hunting more then either he or his doctors expected at that time. He was down to a Remington model 17, and a 16 gauge Halifax, last we spoke. He had quite a few rifles left at that time.

I'll contact him later this week. I hope he is well.

I haven't used it in a few seasons, but, I also own a 16 gauge Ithaca 37 pump, and they are a fine birdgun.

Do enjoy your trip. Bring plenty of ammunition, or, a second 12 gauge gun. You can get 12 gauge ammunition at just about any gas station or small town hardware store.

Best,
Ted