Ithaca 4E in .410

[Ian Civco]

What do you think of this?

https://live.amoskeagauction.com/m/lot-details/index/catalog/28/lot/18163?url=%2Fm%2Fview-auctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F28

I wanted it, and quite badly, but $13,000 ($14,950 with commission) was out of my league. I think $10,000 or so with commission seemed about right for this one.

[James L. Martin]

I think the price was just about right, try and find another.

[Bob Jurewicz]

What a gun! Worth every penny of final price and more.
Bob Jurewicz

[Ian Civco]

I get it that it's RARE. But comparables from a few years ago suggest that's full retail and maybe then some.

[Ian Civco]

On the other hand, it still might have been worth it. I just didn't have 15k or so to burn through on that day. Had I had it, it might have been a different situation.

[Ian Civco]

And here is the 12 ga 5E NID from the same collection. Not nearly as desirable since in 12 ga but still a fine gun: https://live.amoskeagauction.com/m/lot-details/index/catalog/28/lot/18164?url=%2Fm%2Fview-auctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F28

[Bill Davis]

Having collected small bore Ithaca’s for many years—mid 70’s through 2005 or so, I can tell you that 410’’s with barrels longer then 26 inches are very rare. I’ve only encountered a handful. This 4-E is a collectible prize and totally original. I got to examine it in January and it was purchased for a friend of mine who has some of my key collection pieces. Walt S. gave me the record information and it’s a 1930 gun. I was not shocked at the final hammer price and feel that the intrinsic value is there, with a good probability to increase down the road.

[Stan Hoover]

Thanks for showing this gun, I missed this auction, and that’s probably a good thing.

Only my opinion but after a quick glance at the pictures, I would have thought that this may have brought more. Of course that’s without holding the gun, but a NID Grade 4 410 is on the rare side.

Stan

[Bill Murphy]

Why the disappointment when something sells for "FULL RETAIL? When your stuff sells, you would hope for FULL RETAIL. It ain't going to happen, but you can hope it does. Keep pumping up those 45 posts. We appreciate your participation.

[Ian Civco]

Why the disappointment when something sells for "FULL RETAIL? When your stuff sells, you would hope for FULL RETAIL. It ain't going to happen, but you can hope it does. Keep pumping up those 45 posts. We appreciate your participation.

This is my opinion, YMMV...

If I want to spend very little time researching the inherent value of an object and/or wait very long periods of time before finding something I desire, I can go the instant gratification route and purchase from a dealer and pay full retail.

By doing my homework and having patience to wait for the right object to come up for auction, I would expect to pay less than full retail. Besides, much of what dealers sell at full retail was obtained at much lower prices at these very same auctions. The key is to not get caught up in bidding wars and set your limit. My limit that day for this one was 10k. Buyer's premium, you are at $11,500.

[Dave Noreen]

Sweet little NID!! Wonder how many of the fourteen No. 4E NID .410-bores have 28-inch barrels. I very briefly, thirty some years ago, had an early Field Grade NID .410-bore with 28-inch barrels.

[Robert Brooks]

I went to the Atlanta gunshow around 1970 and this dealer had a 4E 410 that the forend wood had split down the middle,he was asking $450 for it. Bobby

[Bill Davis]

Dave-I’d venture to say that very few had 28 inch barrels. My belief is that during the NID era, small bores—28’s and 410’s—we’re mostly made with 26 inch barrels. The bulk of the production were field grades and they, with a few exceptions, were all 26 inches. I noted in my years of searching out these guns, that the higher grade, optioned guns, especially those with vent ribs, were the guns where you’d encounter the longer barrels (28”). The 410 4-E in this discussion originally went to New York City. It’s fun to speculate what the buyer was thinking when they placed their order!

[Ian Civco]

Dave-I’d venture to say that very few had 28 inch barrels. My belief is that during the NID era, small bores—28’s and 410’s—we’re mostly made with 26 inch barrels. The bulk of the production were field grades and they, with a few exceptions, were all 26 inches. I noted in my years of searching out these guns, that the higher grade, optioned guns, especially those with vent ribs, were the guns where you’d encounter the longer barrels (28”). The 410 4-E in this discussion originally went to New York City. It’s fun to speculate what the buyer was thinking when they placed their order!

NID-28. I may have some insight into this. Please check your PM.

[todd allen]

I sold a Turnbull/Flaim NID about 5 years ago.
Despite being a total redo on a field grade. Case colors and AAA wood, no added engraving, 26" bbls.
Went for 5k, and nobody even blinked.

[Bill Murphy]

I won't mention what I had to pay at auction for my 30" barrel, fully optioned .410 Iver Johnson Skeeter. It's the only gun I have ever bought from that auction that staff members still ask about when I attend.

[Dave Noreen]

Walt S. gave me the record information and it’s a 1930 gun.

At that time the "standard" chamber length for the .410-bore was 2 1/2 inch. The catalog text doesn't mention chamber length. Wonder if the chambers have been lengthened?

In this great condition I doubt this was Norman Pillot's No. 4E .410-bore.

83263

July 1933 National Sportsman