doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 1938 ITHACA SXS Trap

I like the Miller/Howland design selection in the safety slide. For me it is the only possible design that can allow one to actually select when a bird is on the wing. Certainly can't with a Parker Bros., Fox-Kautzky, or a Hunter One Trigger selector.

Harry E. Howland's selective single trigger Patent No. 1,818,852, assigned to Ithaca Gun Co., was filed June 18, 1928, but wasn't granted until August 11, 1931.

From 1926 through the 1931 Ithaca paper the listing is "Selective Single Trigger if wanted $30.00." Beginning in the 1931-32 Ithaca Catalogues the listing is "Ithaca Selective Single Trigger if wanted $30.00." By the second 1932 Ithaca Catalogue (that includes the Magnum-Ten) the listing is "Ithaca Selective Single Trigger if wanted $32.45." By the 1934 Ithaca Catalogue 51-F, they did a drastic price cut on the selective single trigger to $21.60, where it remained through 1940. For 1941, it went up to $21.76, and for 1942 up to $24.55. Just after President Truman "dropped the bomb" the selective single trigger was $25.17. From there the price rose quickly to its last listing at $45 on the 1948 retail price sheet. But, only Field Grades and Grade 2Es were listed on the 1948 Dealers Prices and the only options available for 1948 were a recoil pad and twin ivory sights. "Doubles will be in Field Grade and #2E Grade only. No Higher Grades. 12, 16, and 20 Gauge only."

Don't get me wrong, I like it too. I just think it requires an intimate proficiency with it or it's likely to be unknowningly set to fire the left barrel in lieu of the "safe" position in hunting situations.

I do think that the later Miller selector and the M21/SKB type selector work well for bird on the wing selection.

Walt, the SN IS 461841,sorry for the mistake.

OK, BINGO! Frank Knickerbocker installed your trigger on 9/12/38! So it is an Ithaca SST!
There you have it. If it isn't working properly, contact the guys mentioned.

I have a circa 1927 L.C. Smith, Ideal Grade that has a Miller Single Trigger. The gun originally came with a Hunter One Trigger and I thought it was sent back to the factory for the Miller. Dan May saw the posting on the L.C. Smith site and responded that Miller did the work. Mine has the selector on the safety like the 3 position safety and was the first style used. Later it went to where the Hunter One Trigger had it.

I have to agree with Researcher that this is the only way to have a selective trigger that is easy enough to operate, and the only one that can be done with the gun mounted easily. (not including modern ones with the button safety on the trigger or left to right safety)

Don't have a dog in this fight but I have never found a single trigger whether L C Smith, Browning, Ruger, or Model 21 that ever allowed me the ability to make selections to suit my needs as well as double triggers.

Only the M21/SKB type or later Miller can be easily pushed to the left quickly for the longer shot (tighter left barrel).

For big slow bird like pheasant, I'm fine with any trigger arrangement, single or double. For the super quick California quail, I think I prefer a non selective single trigger. I've shot quail with double triggers more than single triggers, but I think I like the single better.

I am left handed, and despise the barrel selectors like the one in the M21 and SKB's or any others which are in the trigger blade. I had one gun with a Miller trigger and the barrel selector on the safety and liked it very much, as it was equally handy for either right or left hand use, and required no extra manipulation. The only other selector that is as easy to use is the one on the Remington 3200 O/U.

It is an extremely rare occasion when I want to select my tight barrel for the first shot and then have what is essentially an empty gun for a second shot at a flaring bird. If I get into a situation where I want both barrels to be effective, I will load big bullets in my right barrel.

The need to select barrels is highly over stated, IMO.