Don't you wonder why the Ithaca's don't have a larger following !!!!!!! I ran across a 4 Grade Damascus Gun the other day and the wood was comparable to a nice B Grade Parker and the Dog and Scroll engraving was absolutely Gorgeous !!!!!!! The guns also feel great in hand and the small bore graded guns must be on the Rare side for collector interest as they are hardly ever seen !

When it comes to guns to shoot I prefer the NID Model Ithacas, but for the best engraving I like the Crass, Lewis, Minier and early Flues up to the engraving change in 1915. As far as gauges go, Ithacas were only made in 10-, 12- and 16-gauges up to their introduction of the 20-gauge in 1906 in the last of the Lewis Models. Here is a nice No. 4E Lewis Model 20-gauge --

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Ith...n_id=100455691

Dave , That is a beauty indeed ,Thank You for the Posts on these guns ! The checkering on the Graded Ithaca Models really catch my eye ! I agree ,from the little I know of these guns ,The Crass and Lewis engraving appeals to me the most also ! Would you happen to know what the " Nig " listed after Lewis in your link stands for ? "" Lewis and Nig "", I always figured ,NID stood for New Ithaca Double ?????? but the Nig. is new to me ! Thank You ; Russ

Oh, teacher, call on me!!! NIG is New Ithaca Gun, a neat line of guns around the late nineties if I recall. I had a screaming New Ithaca Gun, exposed hammers, fluid steel. Yup, I sold it.

I think all NIG's were external hammers

But I think the serial number ran in the same series as the Lewis hammerles

Again no expert