Any idea what year my Ithaca Hammerless is?
 

Hi. My first post. I recently bought a new Ithaca hammerless, serial number 85531. Below the serial number is an S, a little lower on either side of the S is a 1 and 2. What does this mean? On top of the barrel it says Nitro powder steel. Thanks

According to the best available serial number chronology, the one in the Second Edition of Walter Snyder's book, your gun is a Lewis Model from 1903. The rib legend NITRO POWDER STEEL indicates it is a No. 1 Special. I don't believe that butt plate is original, but it certainly appears to have been there a long time.

I believe your gun is a later style Crass model 12 gauge made in 1903.

Wow it sure is old. What shells would you recommend to fire this Ithaca?

This is the No. 1 Special listing in the 1901 Ithaca catalog

https://photos.smugmug.com/US-Makers...0Special-M.jpg

The retail price was substantially lower than $37.75

1904 Supplee Hdw. Co. for $25 - about $900 today

https://photos.smugmug.com/US-Makers...1%20half-M.jpg

re: appropriate shells please see
https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads...-shoot.366087/

Nice older Ithaca Lewis model,

The Crass model ended in the 61,000-62,000 serial # range.

The S signifies the No 1 Special and the 12 signifies 12 gauge. I must say the Nitro Powder Steel in the rib legend is not common. That is a new one to me. The buttplate is not an original Ithaca butt plate, it reminds me of a butt plate you might see on a European shot gun or rifle.

I’m pretty certain you should be using 2 1/2” shells in your gun, RST Shot Shells produces excellent light recoil 2 1/2” ammo for older guns just like yours.

Stan

Here are some of the listings of shotgun shells available in 1903 from the 1903 Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalogue --

Attachment 126438

Attachment 126439

Attachment 126440

Those "Heavy Loads" near the bottom of righthand page are said to have been a bit hotter than SAAMI specs that came into use in the mid-1920s.

Concur with Stan, it is a Lewis model. The Crass model had the sear pin visible in the lower corner of the action, for a total of 5 pins or screws visible on the side of the action. The Lewis model shortened the action and covered the sear pin with the buttstock, showing only 4 pins. I have both models, and shoot low pressure (1 oz @ 1200 or less) 2 3/4 inch shells in both. To my knowledge, and somewhere in Walt's first book, the standard Ithaca 12ga chamber was 2 3/4 from the outset, unlike Parker, Smith, and others which were 2 1/2 to 2 5/8. Your gun appears in good shape, and if the bores are not pitted too badly, should be safe and fun to shoot. Providing all the other factors of a vintage gun are there, i.e. on face, proper lock up, solid wood, sound barrels etc.

My son shot 6 shells with it and it works great. The safety is a bit finicky. Thanks for your help!

Mike: from the beginning the Alexander Brown designed Smith hammer (1883) and hammerless (1886) 12g were bored with 2 3/4" chambers, unless otherwise indicated

A pre-1913 No. 2E

https://photos.smugmug.com/LC-Smith/...%203inch-M.jpg