Ithaca Crass Grade III from 1897

[Bruce P Bruner]

I took delivery of a 12 Gauge 30" Ithaca Crass Grade III E today. Serial number 29614 indicates DOM of 1897. The drop at the heel is surprising at 2-3/4" for a vintage gun. The checkering is unmarred as are the bores. The furniture is lovely with only a couple of minor scratches and has the original butt plate. The "Chain Damascus" barrels still have most of their original pattern with some discoloration due to long time storage neglect resulting in some surface oxidation. I'm unsure at this point if a wet "Frontier" metal cleaning pad would benefit or not, I would prefer smooth to the touch barrels but I'm unwilling to risk any deterioration of the Damascus pattern. I am currently having Breck Gorman refinish a set of 1887 Damascus Parker Bros. barrels and his work is truly amazing. This Ithaca however, may not require a total Damascus refresh. The barrels are now soaking up a heavy coat of Rem Oil for now.
The lavish "Ithaca Style" engraving is striking, some deep case color remains in the protected area in front of the trigger guard.
The extractors are articulated like an ejector gun but the underside of the forearm doesn't have the familiar ejector "hammers". The action functions as an extractor gun. There is a flat, hollow rod in the center channel on the underside of the barrels that push the extractors out (last photo). Why they are articulated (independent) on the breech face I have no idea.
If the exterior of the barrels can't be cleaned up with a wet "Frontier" pad then the only recourse is leave them "as is" or send them off to Breck.