Pattern variations from recent restorations

[Tim Sheldon]

I can gaze at those eye candycanes all day long! Very nice.

Tim

[Drew Hause]

WOW-beautiful work!
The 'IHR' on the Lefever Nitro barrels is probably Heuse-Riga Fils
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge...0riga%20gb.htm
'HRF' has been found on Ithaca Flues, c. 1910 L.C. Smith hammer guns, and Sears/A.J. Aubrey.
The (Ithaca) Lefever Nitro Special was not introduced until 1921- did someone on a hungover Monday morning grab the wrong tube?!? Lou Smith would not have been pleased!

Jack O'Connor Outdoor Life 1942
A good many people resent being told that their much loved old guns were no longer safe. Just for the fun of it, Lou Smith (President of Ithaca Gun Co.) proofed (using 17,500 psi Proof Loads in 1942) a dozen or so damascus and twist beauties which were lying around the plant........Here's the dope: Most of the old timers busted loose with the first proof shell. The rest did with the second. Guns tried were cheap, medium priced and expensive: but all of them went. So if anyone wants to go ahead using modern smokeless stuff in a gun built for black powder, he can; but he can include me out.
Reviewing the findings Lou writes: "These birds who persist in using smokeless powder in twist and damascus barrels remind me of the guy who made a living by sticking his head in the lion's mouth at the circus. He got away with it for a long time; then one day he didn't!"

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

This nitro was made prior to 1933, by the address marking.As the name implies the "Nitro Special" was designed to handle all type of modern ammunition and was nitro proofed. The Damascus tube is marked full and measures at .685, that is .044 constriction. Mabey Lou Smith should have proofed this one. Or perhaps Lou was part of the Great Damascus Conspiracy.

Brad

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Brad Bachelder

Perhaps Lou was part of the Great Damascus Conspiracy.Brad

My money's on that theory... but include O'connor, Askins and anyone else who espoused that faulted logic.

[Harry Collins]

Funny! Sherman Bell did the same test with a closet full of wall hangers and modern proof loads. Everyone and every gun survived.

Harry

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

Hello Clint, Nice set of barrels, I feel that Ithica had some of the best chain patterns. Due to the apperance of the top rib, I believe that these barrels were refinished, but a long time ago. The pattern orientaion is correct, however the two tubes appear different. This is due to the refinishers etching process. As the ribands are wound and hammer welded the exerted hammer force varies between barrels. The tube that shows the white weld lines tells me that the metal is more dense than the welds on the other tube. Increased density from additional force is much harder to properly etch than less dense metal. Additional finishing steps need to be taken to even out the appearance, but It can be done. I doubt that they left the factory looking like that. Iam sure that the old timers had to deal with these problems on a daily basis, but they had there little tricks. The ability to take finish is greatly compounded by the hardness of the tubes. Parker fine twist barrels are among the hardest to refinish due to the hardness of the ribands. Potentially your barrels could look awsome, done correctly.

Brad