Description and pictures from James Julia catalog archives:
VERY RARE ITHACA KNICK MODEL SOUSA GRADE SINGLE BARREL TRAP GUN. SN 401036. Cal. 12 ga. Named after famous composer who was a well known celebrity trap shooter, this beautiful shotgun has 32" bbl choked FULL with flat tapered matted ventilated rib with Ray-Bar front sight & ivory middle bead. It has side reinforcements engraved "ITHACA GUN CO." on left and "ITHACA N.Y. U.S.A." on right with dbl bite extensions & ejector. Receiver is spectacularly engraved with vignettes of a deep relief raised gold pointer on left side, a deep relief raised gold setter on right side, both in field scenes and a deep relief raised gold duck over water with marsh grass in foreground. Trigger guard has Sousa grade logo of a deep relief
raised gold nude mermaid, all surrounded by extremely fine foliate arabesque patterns. Engraving extends over bbl reinforcements and about 4" up bbl and about 5" on sides of rib. It has checkered gold plated trigger. Mounted with extremely beautiful feather crotch & shell grain American walnut with Ithaca's trademark black insert carved & checkered, tapered target forearm and extensively carved & checkered pistol grip
buttstock with scalloped carved & checkered raised side panels, 14-1/2" over a presentation model Pachmayr Whiteline pad. It has a fluted horn grip cap & a blank gold initial shield on bottom. Water table has serial number along with "SOUSA 12". These famous shotguns were used for many years beginning in the early 1900's and are still being used to great effect. Such luminaries as John Phillip Sousa, Annie Oakley & many others also used them in competition & exhibitions. Accompanied by a Pedersen gold fleece lined, brown vinyl case. Bore diameter: 731. Bore restrictions: .040. Wall thickness: .035. Drop at heel: 1-1/8",
drop at comb: 1-1/8". Weight: 8 lbs. 5.44 oz. CONDITION: extremely fine plus. Bbl retains virtually all of its clean bright rust blue and receiver all of its strong brilliant case colors. Water table & standing breech have fine, light nicks & dings with case colors down in them, however it does not appear to have been refinished as engraving & gold are crisp with their orig fine details. Trigger guard retains all of its strong bright blue. Wood is sound with a couple of minor nicks & scratches & retains about all of its fine orig finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Case is fine. 4-32895 JR297
Roy
