My First American "Classic" Ithaca NID4E 12Ga.
 

I purchased my first American "Classic" SxS this past summer, a 1927 Ithaca NID4E 12Ga. 2bbl set. It came with a set of 30" bbls choke stamped 4/4(F/F) and as et of 24" 0/0(CYL/CYL).
After receiving it from the dealer I purchased it from online I was pleasantly surprised at what arrived and I immediately sent it to Stillwater Restorations for servicing and ended up having a bit of restoration work done to it at Chris's recommendation. While the gun was there being worked on I sent to the Cody Museum to see if I could get a letter for the gun and give me a bit of insight if the gun was ordered as a two bbl set or if the second set was an after thought. As it turned out it was factory ordered as a set. The letter does not give much info on delivery to whomever ordered it but there is a name and partial address.
Here are a few pre-restoration pictures....

And a few post restoration pictures...:) Barrels, forend irons and trigger guard were reblued, receiver and top lever were colour case hardened as the original was mostly gone except for a few traces. Wood was untouched as it was not in need of any work.

An absolutely stunning set. Looked pretty damn good as it was before restoration. Ithaca always seemed to use great wood on their graded guns.

Harold the gun was restocked about 10 years ago as the original split in half full length from wrist to toe. Chris Dawe of Stillwater Restorations restocked the gun and I called him prior to purchasing it as I was sure looking at the dealers ad and Chris specializing in antique SxS restorations that he might know the gun as it was on the same coast as him. As it turned out I was right, he knew the gun well and it was through him I found out the gun had been restocked by him. The dealer had advertised it as restocked and it looked like Chris' work so that is another reason I called him. It was on his advice that I bought the gun. Chris indicated the forend wood was still 100% original and untouched. Trying to find a picture of my Cody letter.

That is a great looking NID grade 4, thanks for sharing the pictures Frank!

I like the Prince of Whales grip (half pistol). Please do share a picture of the letter!

I'm scratching my head as to why the rearward trigger guard screw is covering part of the serial #, does the gun letter as a straight grip originally?

Stan

Yes I believe it was. I believe the old polaroid photos that were in the case showing the broken stock were a straight grip. I'll have a look and see. I found that screw hole through the serial # a little odd myself. I have a feeling that the broken stock may not have been original either, I believe it may have been a replacement at some point. It definitely did not match the checkering of the original forends and the wood was plain as a brown paper bag. The gun definitely saw use but mechanically it was very solid and it did not have any pitting in the metal or work done to the bores. Someone had hot blued the barrels at some point as well so Chris offered to do them to closer match the original factory finish and colour. The letter is very vague but did show it was ordered as a two barrel set.

Frank

So I went digging around and found an old photo that had come with the gun. As you can see it is straight gripped but I'm certain by the checkering and if memory serves Chris did say the old fellow who had him restock it had a non-original stock on the gun to replace the higher grade stock it had come with that got broken and that the original wore a Prince of Wales grip and he wanted Chris to replicate the original with the proper checkering pattern as well. I took a few photos, as you can see the forend wood serial # matches on both forends so the gun did come with higher grade wood new and the Fleur-De-Lis checkering.

That is a unique 2 barrel set for sure, I don’t recall ever seeing another Ithaca 12 gauge with factory 24” barrels.
I’ve seen a 20 gauge and 28 gauges with 24” barrels.

The trigger guard would have had 1 screw which was in the middle of the serial number on the graded NID’s.

AS you can clearly see the trigger guard on this one is much longer than the pics you posted and it is the original trigger guard. I have seen pics of a few identical to mine as well and it has two screws to your one. I am guessing due to this gun having been made new with a Prince Of Wales grip as opposed to the standard tight curled pistol grip. It may also explain why the screw goes through the serial#. Maybe the engraving was completed prior to securing the trigger guard to the stock? I am going to contact Chris at Stillwater and ask a few questions. He specializes in restoring antique American SxS's and has a wealth of knowledge.

Every pistol grip NID I've saved pictures of has the one screw trigger guard backstrap. Pistol grip Lewis, Minier and Flues Models have two-screw trigger guard backstraps.

Just my opinion but I believe your Ithaca formerly was a straight grip with long trigger guard and 2 screws.
At some point the trigger guard was shortened to use on a pistol grip stock and the guard was shortened. The original rear screw hole was part of the piece cut off and then they had to add a screw hole which landed on the serial #.

I have 2 straight grip NID's, both have correct long trigger guard with 2 screws.

Double triggers and slim forearms are scarce items on NIDs when one gets to No. 4 and above. At No. 4E and above, fully optioned seems to be more common, and especially in 12-gauges. Add to that a factory two-barrel set and that is quite the wonderful NID. Shoot it in good health.

After speaking with Chris it would appear this is the case and that the modifications done to it were "what the customer wanted"...:rolleyes:

Had it been mine I'd have sourced or had a trigger guard made and serial #'s engraved to match the original style of a pow grip stock OR restocked the gun with a straight grip stock the way it came and had it made to modern shooting dimensions.
Oh well it is what it is and that is a shooter not a museum piece so out to the duck blind it will go...:whistle:

You have a beautiful Ithaca there Frank,

I didn’t mean to take away, hopefully no offense was taken. I’m jealous of you having an Ithaca 12 gauge 2 barrel set with confirmed original 24” barrels:)

Stan

No offense taken at all. I am certainly nowhere near as educated and informed on these old SxS's as so many here are but I'm learning as I go. :)

I had a text from Chris Friday morning and I ended up pulling the gun out of the case and the Parker VH from the safe. I had a good look and feel at them while I had them out and oh my probably blasphemous to say on this site but I prefer the look and feel of the Ithaca though I truly do like the Parker but for different reasons and characteristics. I haven't put the Ithaca back in it's case yet but the Parker will be going out to play first and soon as we should start seeing the Snow Geese arriving any time now and I have a bunch of Bismuth and a Parker with 30" full choked barrels to greet them with.
This was the first time I had the two guns out at the same time so I just had to take a few picture of them together....;)

My two favorite grip configurations -- straight and semi-pistol/round knob. Frank, you must be "livin' right" as my Pop used to say.

Never can forget at one of the first Old Baltimore Shows I attended when it was still held at the old 5th Regiment Armory downtown (c. 1965) seeing a 28 gauge Grade 5 Ithaca with all the bells and whistles (now more reverently referred to as "fully optioned") offered at the outrageous price of $2500. Made standing in line up on the hill waiting to get into the show in the wind and freezing cold worth it!!

Where can I find the "Wayback Machine"?! I'll bring cash!!!"

Beautiful gun you found there Frank! Congrats.

Very nice, love a round knob stocked shotgun..... My personal favorite.