Really two stories: a shotgun and shotgun family with a nice update on the shotgunner’s friend, Jay Menefee, (Polywad).

https://shootingsportsman.com/this-old-ithaca/

Good read. Thanks.

My only critique is that I wouldn’t consider a grade 4 Flues to be a field gun.
That’s like 5 grades above their entry level Flues.

Looks like a No. 3 to me.

Yes, I stand corrected.
What were the grades then?
S,F, 1, 1 1/2, 2, 3, ?

By 1919/20 the grades were Field, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7 and Sousa. By about 1923 the No. 6 was gone from the listings.

Between 1915 and 1918 as the composite barrels were phased out The No. 1 Special was dropped when the No. 1 got steel barrels, and then in late 1919 the bold floral engraved No. 1 1/2 became the new No. 1.

I have a 4E Flues 20ga, and I bought it with the intention of using it in the field. It currently has an issue that needs a gunsmith's attention. But once that is taken care of, I fully intend to hunt with it.

There must be exceptions or oddities for Ithaca. I have a 20 Flues, grade 1, made 1919-1920 by serial number which was made with 30" barrels which was not in the catalog at that time. Short chambered at 2 1/2" and choked full and full I have used it to good effect on late season doves. It crushes Skeet targets. I think the previous owner used too many very heavy 2 3/4" filed loads because it has developed a crack behind the tang. He also trimmed the barrels back 1/4", to clean up some muzzle damage I suspect, because it now measures 29 3/4". Ithaca might have had a 30" barrel set on hand and just filled an order using up old stock. When I retire this gun will get a new stock and a good barrel refinish. The case color is still very strong so I will leave it alone. It handles like a dream.

I am guessing the cocking hook. I have 2 I have been trying to find someone to do for a couple of years. Replacements were once available, but I can't find a source or a used one.

Our best Ithaca gunsmith recently passed away. Shame he was such a good one and a great person to deal with. I have been looking for someone to go over a couple Mag10’s I recently picked up. He was nit only capable of working on them but also had a small stash of parts. I have been stocking up on a few parts but l can’t find 30 years of working on them. Be nice your gunsmith ought to be a national holiday.

Last I checked, Diamond in NY had some for sale.
They need to be fitted, tested, polished, then hardened. Then repolished.

It becomes a $500.00 job on a $300.00 shotgun that won’t cock right.

You do know Les passed away?

Yeah, not a field grade! The nose of the comb looks odd to me. I think that the top strap has too much bend to allow for more modern drops at comb and heel? Nice to get it going again. A neat story! I've shot a few Polywad shells. Worked fine.

Chief

Yes, but when I spoke with him last, he had some of those pieces in stock for sale.
Ideally, whatever bits and bobs his shelves contained made their way to a new home after his passing.

I don’t know if the shop is still in business.

Yes, it would seem “Field grade” is whatever the author wants it to be. Not what the manufacturer called something. Call it poetic license.

There are certainly oddities on those guns. Mine has 24" barrels with a swamped rib. I got the factory letter from the Cody Museum. Mine is from the same era as yours. Sold in 1920. The letter lists the name of the buyer, so I'm sure it was a special order gun. It was ordered with 24" barrels. 2 1/2" chambers on a 20ga would have been standard back then. Mine has 2 3/4" chambers, and I was hoping to learn whether those were also a special order from the factory. But the letter doesn't tell me anything about chamber length, and they certainly could have been lengthened at a later date.

Good luck with yours. Given your barrel length vs mine, our two guns are clearly the long and the short of it.

I have a 1915 vintage No. 1 Special 28-gauge with 30-inch barrels --



The catalogs of the time only offered 24- and 26-inch barrels.

A Sousa Grade. At one time, John Philip Sousa was the President of the ATA.

A Turnbull Restoration. Sousa Grade Trap Gun.

I had a chance to buy one of these several years ago at the Grand American in Vandalia, Ohio. I believe Jaqua's had it for sale. It was really worn so I chose to pass on it. I was probably more interested in the Model 21s at the time. Gorgeous guns!!