The "New Ithaca Field" Guns

[Ruff Hunter]

I have two Ithaca NID 20 gauges marked "New Ithaca Field" on the tops of the right barrels. They are identical twins, except that one has 26" barrels and the other has 28s. These field grades are clearly superior in quality to any other run of Ithaca field grade guns. There is really no comparison to a Flues model or even the regular NID field grades. They both differ from the regular NID field grades in that they are not engraved with Ithaca's name on the frame, and the company logo of the pointing dog is also absent. Instead, they have an engraved border like an A grade and stippling on the frame tops. Both of mine wear wood that is typically found on a grade 2 or 3 gun, and the forestocks have an ebony inlaid wedge. Its hard to imagine that Ithaca had much of a profit margin on these guns. This one dates to 1938. I just finished restoring it with new case colors, butt pad, rust blued barrels and hand rubbed oil stocks. The Blue Book is silent regarding this sub-species of Ithaca field grade, and I have only seen a few others for sale over the years. Does anyone know the details of this run of exquisite Ithaca "field" grades?