Nitro Special

[will evans]

I came across this on Gunbroker. I wasn't really interested in bidding, but I tend to look at about anything in 16ga or 20ga. I have pretty much zero knowledge about any Ithaca guns other than the Flues accounted for more production than any other SXS of the era. The thing that caught my attention was the forearm. To me, the wood looks to be about the same age as the butt stock. Any chance that forearm wood is factory? Very different. I'm not even sure what I think about it. Just thought it was a curiosity. If it is a replacement, my guess would be that it was replaced a long time ago.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=329422958

[Berkley Stephens]

I think that both the forearm and stock were a replacement. It was common for them to have checkering. The grade of wood appears to be correct. Berk

[Brian Dudley]

Forend is surely not original. And the buttstock may not be original either. Typically a 20g Lefever nitro special would have a capped pistol grip. The style of stock on that gun was typical of 12 and 16g guns. However, capped stocks were used on some 12 and 16 guns. So that round knob stock MAY be original.

Lefever nitro specials would have the splinter type forends. The only Lefevers fitted standard with btfe would be the A grade model 6 skeet guns.

[Dave Noreen]

No. In that early vintage the Nitro Special had a half-pistol grip.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Ithaca%20and%20Lefever/EarlyLefeverNitroSpecialgrip.jpg

but it did come with some rudimentery flat-topped checkering.

The boys at Fall Creek Water Power Lot No. 6 made some pretty ugly beavertails before they settled on their 1935 style, but I sure don't believe that one is in any way original.

[wayne goerres]

Extreamly practical. Damed uglyest thing I have ever seen. Theres a lot of extra wood there. Maby some body could shave it down. Can't possably look as bad as it dose right now.

[allen newell]

The forearm is not original based on all the nitros I've seen over the years and a few owned. But the forearm could be reshaped to something more appealing. It's damm ugly right now. The stock could be easily 'worked' as well. In any event, it's short money to anyone who wants a utility gun.

[will evans]

Either way, the gun has drawn a fair amount of interest. 12 bids with over 2 days remaining.