"Crossing the line"

[Angel Cruz]

I can't believe I'm thinking of doing this so I fugure I run it by you guys. What do you guys think of this :duck:.... Ithica. At least she's a 16ga hammer gun with 30 inch bbls in overall great condition.

[David Holes]

I like the D 1 barrels. Gun looks a little heavy, like a 1 frame Parker. Its in very nice condition, I would imagine at least a partial restoration. The wood and engraving look very nice. Seller recommends looking at it and not shooting it. Is there some meaning there. Bottem line is, sure is perty. Dave

[Brent Francis]

Angle, thats a nice looking gun. I bought one very similar 16 ga also and B grade. Pretty nice but not as nice as that one. I have shot mine with 2 1/2inch vintager 16 ga. and still have all my fingers. I cant be sure but I think some restoration work has been done on the one you are showing. Original finish on the old ithacas have alot of red tone. And the but plate is correct style but Id bet its a repro rather than original

[Angel Cruz]

David, nothing wrong with the bbls. He thinks it should be to collected and not shot.
Brent, it's supposed to be all origina but I will askhim a few questions. Thank you for your opinions.

[Mills Morrison]

I own an Ithaca 16 gauge not nearly as nice as that one, just to be able to have a representative of that great American gun maker in my collection. It is a decent shooter as well. I would inquire further about why it is for looking at and not for shooting. If it is just because it has Damascus barrels . . . and if it fills a need in your collection - go for it.

[Art Bensheimer]

I have 4 grade four Ithaca's in my collection and they are fine guns. There all in the same gun safe with the 4 parkers I own and I haven't heard a single argument in there yet !!! Must be OK ! I say do it !!!

[Angel Cruz]

Thanks for your input gents!!

[Brent Francis]

I was putting off doing Sat morning chores by taking some pictures. First picture is my hammer 16 B grade very similar to the GI gun. The other is of 3 with the 16 on top and two turn of century field grades on bottom. The top has a refinished stock. The bottom two are old closet queens with their original varnish. Note the red particularly on the hammer gun. I know this is heresy but I like the old Ithaca hammer guns better than the Parkers. to my eye they are sexier and if you shop around they are alot cheaper. The 3 guns here are while not perfect are pretty good and I never paid more than 400 for any of them.

[Angel Cruz]

Seeing as to how many of you have an Ithica of two of three, I won't feel to bad about crossing the line.

[Brent Francis]

Has anyone seen an Ithaca hammer gun in a higher grade than B ( 2)? I have seen alot of the beautiful high grade Ithaca hammerless but only field and B grade with external hammers.

[Dennis V. Nix]

Angel, in my experience as a gun dealer/buyer I have seen many examples of online sellers giving a 3 day inspection period where the buyer may keep the gun for 3 days to inspect but not shoot. It is very common and I suspect the reason is because the seller has no idea what ammunition might be used in his firearm. We in the gun collecting business all know of people who are very knowledgeable with all types of guns and loads. Others we are aware of know little to nothing about guns and are prone to hurt themselves or others. In the case of a vintage gun with damascus barrels I would have a problem if someone was to shoot a modern long range goose load with steel shot through the barrels. I guess the easiest thing to do is to ask the seller exactly why he doesn't want the gun shot. I like the Ithaca hammer 16 a lot. I tend to agree with some others that it looks to be somewhat restored. It is hard to imagine the case colors on the receiver being so worn yet the stock is so great looking. I hope it works out for you. Nice gun.

[Angel Cruz]

I spoke with the owner and it is all original with super clean bores. Included with the gun is a copy of the 1999 DGJ article he wrote on the gun. He even game me the phone number for Mr Daniel Cote who published the article for DGJ and he can vouch for the originality of the gun.

[Brent Francis]

Angel, wont argue with Double gun journal. So did you buy it? It sure is pretty.

[Angel Cruz]

I did. I made him an offer and he accepted. I just hope my Parker girls don't get mad.:)

[Brent Francis]

Congratulations, It will take them awhile but they will get over it.

[Angel Cruz]

Thanks Brent!!

[Fred Preston]

Angel, I confess that I too crossed the line and got my first Ithica last week. Not in the same class as yours, a 50 year old '37. Probably paid too much, about twice what it cost new according to the '62 Gun Digest but less than half the price of a new Featherlite 12 from Upper Sandusky.

[Angel Cruz]

Nie one Fred!! One of these days I'm gonna have to try one of those single bbl guns.

[Brent Francis]

Good choice, A model 37 featherlite was my 16th birthday present in 1967. Still have it and have never had a moments trouble. We had a lot of fun together.

[Mills Morrison]

I recently bought a Winchester Model 12, mainly to have a representative of this American classic in my collection. I am also looking forward to shooting with it.

[Dave Suponski]

Love them Model 12's I have a 12 gauge 2barrel set and a recently found 16 gauge. Next is a nice 20!

[Daryl Corona]

I'm with Dave. If I was'nt so obsessed with Parkers I'd be shooting a M12 every weekend at clays. A 20ga. solid rib M12 is in my future. I just have to find one and I'll see if I can make a deal for two of them... one for me and one for Dave. (although it will cost more than $200-sorry):crying:

[Mills Morrison]

Mine is a 16 gauge and is an early model which is also good. The bluing is almost all gone which I like because it means this gun has been on many good hunts.

[Fred Preston]

The first time I shot the gun was a week ago at the annual RCF&G corn roast. We open up the trap range after eating and before any serious drinking. I brought the gun and a box of assorted left over target loads. My frend, Jeff, forgot about the shooting part and didn't bring a gun. Being short of amo, we signed up for for a 10 target flight and passed the gun back and forth, sharing amo. Jeff killed nine and I got eight. He wanted to know if I would part with it. It will shoot where it's pointed. We are going to SD the end of October and it's going with me. I will have my smith check the bore/choke relationship (it's stamped mod) and see if it can be used with an oz. of Black Cloud #3s where notox is required. A Parker will be going, of course, along with the two dogs. At this point, I am leaning toward my Gaddy restored GH 12. It's choked 0.009 right and 0.032 left (good grouse gun too). For it, I use an oz pushed by PB to about 1200fps.

[lee r moege]

Angel: The Ithaca will do just fine for you until I get my 16 ga. O grade, O frame 30 incher ready to sell. HA!!!!!! Lee.:whistle:

[Angel Cruz]

Angel: The Ithaca will do just fine for you until I get my 16 ga. O grade, O frame 30 incher ready to sell. HA!!!!!! Lee.:whistle:

Okay Lee, I'll be wating for your PM..:corn:

[Steve McCarty]

I suspect that the sellor doesn't understand that one can safely shoot damascus barrels. If the gun has little rust on the outside or inside I'd shoot it with RST loads. It'd look at the thickness of the barrels too.

If the gun closes tight and the barrels look okay with little rust and the muzzles don't look thin I'd shoot it. It certainly is a pretty thing isn't it.

[Angel Cruz]

James just happens to be strictly a collector, not a shooter. He thinks all of these nice old guns should be admired and not used.
This gun has beautiful Damascus bbls with perfect bores and extra full chokes.

[Mike Shepherd]

I have a soft spot for the Ithaca Flues sixteens. I have a grade 4 and a grade 3.

[Angel Cruz]

I like my new B grade 16ga hammer gun.

[Mike Shepherd]

Good for you!

I like your new Ithaca.

[Steve McCarty]

I like the D 1 barrels. Gun looks a little heavy, like a 1 frame Parker. Its in very nice condition, I would imagine at least a partial restoration. The wood and engraving look very nice. Seller recommends looking at it and not shooting it. Is there some meaning there. Bottem line is, sure is perty. Dave

Unless I think a gun might be unsafe, I shoot everything that I own, including an 1816 flintlock musket. Also old Sharps rifles, a Burnside and Smith carbine. Old Colt pistols, two Navy's - lots more.

I don't have any real pristine Parkers. But I've got a very nice Sterlingworth and Lefever and I shoot them both.

This Ithaca is a beauty and I would not hesitate to shoot it with Polywad or similar shells.

[Angel Cruz]

Thanks Steve. I don't even think twice about shooting this beauty. She's got super clean bores and still has her full chokes.

[Steve McCarty]

Thanks Steve. I don't even think twice about shooting this beauty. She's got super clean bores and still has her full chokes.

Welp, you have a wonderful gun there, sir. Have fun with her.

SM

[Brent Francis]

Angel if your 16 is like mine it has some seriously thick barrels. I shoot mine all the time. It has short chambers so I use 2 1/2 inch Vintagers. I also have a Ithaca 12 hammer and I havent done any detailed measurements but think the frame is pretty near the same size in both 16 and 12 gauge.

[Angel Cruz]

Brent, I also have 2-1/2 inch chambers and I load 2-1/2 shells. At 6lbs 9oz she's like my 1 frame 16ga Parker.

[Mills Morrison]

Unless I think a gun might be unsafe, I shoot everything that I own, including an 1816 flintlock musket. Also old Sharps rifles, a Burnside and Smith carbine. Old Colt pistols, two Navy's - lots more.

I don't have any real pristine Parkers. But I've got a very nice Sterlingworth and Lefever and I shoot them both.

This Ithaca is a beauty and I would not hesitate to shoot it with Polywad or similar shells.



I ought to try out some of my father in law's Revolutionary and Civil War rifles on game.

[Steve McCarty]

I ought to try out some of my father in law's Revolutionary and Civil War rifles on game.

I have shot my 1861 Springfield hundreds of times, but have never hunted with it. Those pure led minie balls would be devistating on game I think. http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa23/GermVMA211/Gun%20Stuff/GunStuff076.jpg

[Angel Cruz]

NICE!!!!!

[Steve McCarty]

NICE!!!!!

Thank you.

During the Civil War soldiers were ordered to polish their rifles and this one has been well polished. You can see how the wood was sanded. The iron holds very little color today, just as it did back then. The stock was rubbed with linseed oil which over time oxidized, turning black. The bore is fine, so the GI who was issued this weapon took care of it and it shoots wonderfully even today.

With a standard pure lead minie ball and 60 grains of FFg, which was the original load, she barely kicks at all. Muzzle velocity was around 1300 fps I think. However when that 500+ grain lead slug met flesh was devistating. The sights to go 500 yds, a long shot.

The GI's were ordered to shoot low so many wounds were from the belly button down.....OUCH. I read that some guys could get off four shots a minute. When I was in one of those CW re-inactment units I couldn't get off more than 2.5 and I was trying hard and no one was shooting at me. I'd jam my bayonet in the ground next to me and place the ramrod in the socket...I don't think they did that during the War. The act of removing and replacing the ramrod takes time.

The sound of the minie ball going down range is noteworthy. They make a loud buzz and when coming at you and passing by you that buzz must have been unnerving. The cartridge box held 40 rounds and sometimes they'd shoot it empty. Hard guys those.

[Angel Cruz]

You see what you did??? Now I want one!!:rotf: