Flues 20
 

looking for opinions on the Flues model Ithacas. I have heard of frames cracking, is that an issue for any particular guage.

stopped in a gun shop about 50 miles from home today that I did not know existed :shock:

they had a small selection well used field grade doubles at what I thought were for the most part reasonable prices, there was a Trojan 12 bore 30 inch, a bolt through the stock and a chip off the toe, a slight rattle with the foreend off, but priced for the issues. A Remington 1900, a Steven 311, and Fox model B filled most the rest of the end cap.

But on the end of the line was a decent little Ithaca 20 bore 28 inch Flues model, a worn but undamaged stock, locked up tight, no wiggle, no color but great bores, a little flecking in the bluing, a 1920's serial number.

I figure RSTs would be light enough. I would need to think about adding a project, BUT - thoughts anyone?- at a comfortable bit under a grand, I was thinking it might be a rainy day gun if the frame will hold up,

I don't think you would have any problem esp using RST or a comparable low pressure load.

I have my Dad's 1911 Flues 16 gauge with 26" barrels choked IC/full. It is a wonderfull gun and if light, 2 1/2" RST's are shot in her she will last my and my sons lifetime, probably longer. Buy it:)

My first double years ago was a little 5lb 4oz. 20 gauge Flues. Kinda wish I still had it. Shot alot of light loads through that wonderful little gun.

with a gun that light them high brass would make them little 20 s kick like 12 ga s...my little lite 20 parker and lc smith kick a little even using rst shells...that little ithaca would come home with me ... charlie

Flues 16....Nice original gun.

really nice dont see one in this good shape very often...charlie

Ithaca Flues 20 ga x 28"
 

Heck, I've got one in pretty good condition that I would let go for $1,000 and you won't have to monkey with it. Do I need to put it in guns, parts for sale?

Take a look.

they just keep gettin better..nice little dove gun... charlie

Flues 1 1/2 20 ga Damascus
 

I've got a sweet little 20 ga Flues with Damascus barrels (that I had checked out by a master gunsmith) with 2 1/2 inch chambers in which I shoot light loads and it shoots like a dream. A light, little Flues 20 that's in good condition should not be concern. You'll like it.

No fleas on a Flues, but for my money, I'd spring for a Fox Sterlingworth. I think that a similar conditioned Sterlingworth would cost about $500 more or than a like Flues though.

I like early 20th Century doubles and have a Baker, Ithaca, Fox and an ancient Spanish double.

All of those guns are working hunting guns and well made.

Thanks

but Foxes I got and have had several others through the years, just still thinking about the Flues as an oddity, never had one, NIDs but no Flues.

and if you find a solid 20 bore sterlingworth for 500 more than this Ithaca grab it and run before the seller sobers up :whistle:

LOL

I paid a grand for my Fox Sterlingworth 13 years ago. It came with the original leg-0-muffin case and the letter. The gun is in wonderful condition. The sellor was a sporting good store and he told me it was a steal. He was right.

I think having a Flues would make a great addition to a collection of like guns. They have become important guns of the era. I recall passing one up, cheap and like many wonderful guns that I missed, I am ashamed by the event. (Not to mention the G grade Ithaca for $200 that I passed on several years ago that was in perfect condition. I should have been drunk! I was put off by the damascus...sadly.)

I am having a little trouble shooting too many shotguns. I shoot weekly in our local skeet/trap club and since I have more shotguns than toes and fingers I switch one to another. Not good. But geeze I enjoy shooting these old beasts!

steve i too enjoy shooting a lot of differant guns...its cost me some game at times like a nice 6 point buck and 2 differant big turkeys...but i never could just get used to shooting just one brand of gun...i would shoot a parker lifter 8 ga today and a stevens 410 tommorrow... it aint the so much of hitting with the old gun for me as is the just getting to shoot it.... charlie

I've lost track of how many shotguns I own, not as many as some people though. Today I'm shooting a Browning Gold Fusion at skeet, a Parker SBT SC at trap, a Remington 870 20 gauge (bran new!) at skeet, a Win Model 12, 12 gauge at trap. For hunting (wish I could do more of it) I'm shooting a Fox Sterlingworth and a Spanish ASTRA double. I own two fine Ithaca 37's one with screw in chokes (a 12) and another modified 16 and have NEVER shot either! Also an Ithaca I grade double...haven't shot it either. I've got four model 12's, two 12's, a 20 and a 16. For chukar hunting I carry a Win Model 59 with the modified barrel (I have two tubes). It's lite and easy to hump over our rocky hills where chukar like to torture you. I'm creeping up on 70 and it is not as easy as it once was.

Oh, I've got an ancient long tang Superposed that I seldom shoot and two Miroku's in 20 and 12 that I haven't shot for years, but I used to a lot. They are a bit dinged up. Hunted from a Dodge Power wagon and the guns got tossed around a bit. Then my Rem model 11 in 20 gauge that I love and that's all I can think of now, but I know I've got a few more. Oh, a Win 1300 with the Win choke, almost never shoot it. Then muzzle loaders, all originals. My dad's old Baker 20, nice little gun.

Switching from gun to gun doesn't do anything for my scores....but frankly I really don't care. I do my best. If I do some more work at Trap with my old Parker I think I can get sorta good....medium old man sorta good and that's good enough for me. I'd like to average 23 with my Parker and if I can do that I'll buy you all a round. I have never hit them all.

Steve, I'm with ya there. I just can't seem to stay with one gun either. I guess whats the sense of having a bunch of em if ya don't shoot them all. Lately though I have been shooting my new to me Skeet configured 12 gauge VH and the scores show when sticking to one gun. I also have a couple Model 12's a 12 gauge 2 barrel set and a great little 16. I'm kinda half-assed looking for a 20 to go with them. God this disease never let's up....:rolleyes:

Dave;
You'll get that M12-20 right after I find that solid rib 20, I still think about that sweet little 16:crying:
And Steve, don't feel that you are alone. I never shoot the same gun two times in a row. When I shoot a round of 100 clays, I shoot one gun on the first 50 and then another gun on the second 50, most times two different gauges. Every gun has it's own personality and life is really too short to shoot one gun. Is'nt that why so many were made?

I've had the same woman for 20 years but I shoot a different gun every week. When bird season rolls around I rotate those also. You can never have to many guns, but more than one woman will get you in trouble faster than a sloppy gun mount.

While I started my gun collection trying to acquire representative US rifles/muskets since 1776, I loved collecting old shotguns. It has to do with my early days shooting with my dad and his dad, days that I'd give anything to relive. While I'm sure no one will believe me, I cannot recall my father missing a single shot! I'm sure he did, but I don't recall any. His dad was no slouch either. My dad and his father hunted constantly during the Depression (Western Kansas). Decades later I'd dig around in my grandfather's basement and pull out boxes of old paper shells. I tried to shoot them. Most either didn't go off, or hanged fire. In those days, (the 1950's), shells cost a $1.35 a box. A case contained 20 boxes. Even at that price we didn't consider shells cheap.
Today skeet loads cost $7 a box and I consider them about the same price as I paid five decades ago. Shotshells have never been cheap.

There is a 20 gauge Winchester Model 12 marked "TRAP" solid rib at a local gun shop.

wont be cheap.... but what to dream for or maybewish for... charlie

Pump shotguns used to be popular on the trap and skeet ranges. Some forget that when Winchester brought out the model 12 is was in 20 gauge first and they did make trap guns in that gauge. The best had a black diamond inset into the wrist of the gun. They sported vent ribs.

I sometimes shoot my 870 20 gauge at skeet which requires some pretty quick pumping. I seldom buy new shotguns, but I just purchased a factory new Rem 870 Wingmaster and it is a fine little gun. Seems to have old world quality...not cheap either, but what is? Scotch will sat you back $70!!!! (I can't afford to drink the good stuff anymore.)

Les Hovencamp, a former Ithaca Gun Company Master Gunsmith is re-chambering my 1927 Ithaca Flues 20 ga right now. It's sweet. Will try to post some photos of it when it comes back from the hospital. Belonged to long deceased uncle who gave up hunting in the late 60's and passed it to me. Been sitting in my gun safe all these years in all original condition and vg to excellent condition. I have a young grandson who will get this when he's ready.

The Flues was replaced by the NID in the 1925-6 time frame. How is your Flues a 1927?

I think if I had a nice, all original, 20-gauge Flues, with its original 2 1/2 inch chambers, I'd be shooting RST 2 1/2 inch Lites in it.

Hello Researcher,
My error, the 20 ga was made in 1924, not 1927. Barrels are Belgian steel, Ser# S 377944. Mod and Full chokes. I considered not lengthening the chambers but 2 1/2 shells are not as readily available locally and I didn't want to take the chance that some family member would not try to shoot a 2 3/4 without realizing the difference (and safety issue). The Master Gunsmith (that Ithaca Gun Co referred me to) indicated the lengthening the chambers would not compromise the gun etc.

my concern with the 20 guage Flues would be the frame - not the barrels with heavier shells, but may be the later ones are stronger

I gave all the info to the former Ithaca Gun Co. master gunsmith (who specializes in working on Ithaca doubles long out of production) and this should not be a problem. Field loads will be fine.

Yeah, the "disease". I wish that I could infect my wife with it. She's immune however, no matter how many times I prop a shotgun next to our bed at night. I almost hate to admit it here, on this site, but my favorite shooting gun is a Remington Model 11 20 gauge. Sacrilege?