How does the compensation screw in the Ithaca 4E forend function? My forend has a bit of play at the tip and is not snug against the barrel. Will the screw remove this play? Currently I place a business card under the barrel to remove the play.

Don't know what that screw is for. I would use the business card.

Just to be clear, 4E is a grade, not a model. Are you referencing a Knick, an NID, a Flues, a...

The clue is twice mentioned, "the barrel". The title of the post mentions "Knick".

Having owned and shot a few Knick Single barrel traps over the years, I don't know what screw you are referring to as the "compensation screw" The screw that comes in from the front draws the forend wood snug to the forend iron. Unless the screw is loose and has been tightened, I don't know how one can tighten the fit, other than a small thin wood shim, or card as you have done. Those Ithaca guns were wonderful trap guns, and still are. They were an American Art Form, IMO.

Are you referring to the long machine screw at the front of the FE? Other SBT makers called that the recoil rod or reinforcing screw; to keep the heavy BTFE attached to the FE iron.

The barrel on a Knick should not touch the forearm. The wood is held away from the barrel by the forearm iron so as to leave a generous gap, perhaps 1/32" between the barrel and the wood. The latch lever (part 62 on Dr. House's diagram) holds the iron to the barrel. Part 60 (latch escutcheon) dictates the barrel-wood-gap. All of this stuff is fixed - not adjustable. The forearm assembly (wood and iron) is held/pushed against the front of the receiver by the spring-loaded fore-end fastener (part 53). Four screws hold the fore-end iron to the wood, and if those are tight and the fore-end is still loose, it seems the problem would fall to the fore-end fastener bolt.

Gunter Frommer, Rocky Mount, VA can fix it for you. Or keep using the business card.

Knick, 1949

Thanks to all for your replies. I have two sources of information. The NRA diagram book and Walt Snyder's book on the Ithaca Gun Company.

In my post I was not clear. My Knick 4E FE is not loose. What is loose is my understanding of the FE lockup function on this SBT. Ithaca5e FE explanation helped a good deal. I have no intention of turning a screw.