doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A curious Ithaca 100

I've just acquired this 20 ga. Model 100. This is the first time I've seen a Model 100 that was not a plain field grade. Barrels are 24" and the chokes have been re-stamped from IC/Mod to Cyl/Cyl. The serial # has an "S" in front of it, but the "S" is not present in front of the serial # on the forend. What have I got here? Was this modified outside of the factory?

Looks to me like somebody had their gunsmith make them a "Quail's Fargo Special". Factories seldom ship a Cyl/Cyl gun unless they are making a double riot gun (or "coach gun" as they are now called) for the CAS guys. I don't think SKB ever did that.

But I don't knock cylinder bore; it's more useful than generally assumed. I have two words for this gun: "ruffed" and "grouse."

My guess would be the woodwork isn't factory. No real good view of the triggerguard but it doesn't look long enuf to be off a 280 so maybe it's just the original from a pistol grip straitened. Does the inletting around the top tang look good enuf that they'd want to machine them like that all day long day in and day out. Checkering with the extra 2 line arrowhead looks a bit "individualistic" to me but doesn't look tentative or amateurish otherwise so, on balance, even if it's aftermarket, it's fairly attractive and not much apparent connection to the Anonymous Yahoo style of doing things.

I've got a 20 with a strait stock and probably a t-guard off a 280e and the longest forend (18") with a brazed on pushrod extension you'll ever see. The wood is a quilted black walnut uncheckered, so that along with the goofy forend and brazing tells me mine is absolutely a home do. Mine is not case colored but the black chrome version.

jack

I don't think SKB case hardened any of their Ithaca guns. If the LOP is 14" I think it was converted from PG and re checkered and higher grade wood than a 100, 280 maybe? forend looks stock, reciever/ forend iron polished out and CC'ed, barrels cut one inch and the ivory bead put in. Should be a good grouser!

Chief

Agree with Chief, frames on these Ithaca guns were blued (with some models coin finished); color case hardened frames was not offered on these imported Ithaca guns.

I was thinking that, as well as "cotton" & "tail"


Removal of the butt-plate has revealed lots of finish residue and a rather roughly hollowed-out stock. The trigger guard, albeit straighter, is the same length as on my 12 ga. Model 100.

I'm in the running if you want to turn it over...

Looks like a nice custom job.

That is definitely custom and not factory. No factory 24" barrels, no CC receivers, no straight grips on Model 100. The only common Ithaca SKB sxs model with the silver nitride finish was the 200E (which was also available in an engraved, blued receiver version). I recently parted with a Model 100 that was coin finish and game scene, but it was made for the European market and was not an Ithaca import.

From the time frame these were built I would highly suspect the frames were built from an alloy steel, not subject to the True Bone Charcoal method of CC'ing. Probably this is one is wearing some type of "Faux Finish". I realize all you folks Drooling over it Totally Detest such, but hopefully that is what this one wears.