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?

[Angel Cruz Ortiz]

It's not much but I hope this helps.

[ed good]

your gun is a late nid, without cocking indicators and a different receiver profile than the earlier guns with cocking indicators...other than that, all nid guns are pretty much the same exception for engraving and better wood found with the graded guns. your pictures indicate your gun is a very nice example...lucky you.

[StubTwist]

The forends are longer on the later NID's like yours. I believe about an inch and is more pleasing in appearance in my opinion.

[Researcher]

There are four major variations of NID Field Grades, and very likely other minor variations. As the gun was originally introduced, it just had the roll-stamped logo on the sides of the frame --



From the serial numbers, it appears the workers at the factory began adding the "stars" to the Field Grade in mid-1927, but they don't appear in the catalogues until the 1929 edition --



About 1935, Ithaca dropped the cocking indicators, the roll-stamped logo and the "stars" and introduced the New Ithaca Field Grade with border engraving and the nicely matted receiver top --



The few Field Grade doubles manufactured/assembled after WW-II, didn't even get the border engraving --

[Ruff Hunter]

Below are photos of the other New Ithaca Field 20 gauge I have, along with a 12 gauge NID "regular" field grade for comparison. Both have had their metal restored, as the 20 gauge was a rusty mess and the 12 had a hot blued frame. The difference in wood quality between the New Ithaca Field and the standard NID is striking, as is the stippled frame top. I have never consistently observed wood like that on any other makers' field grades; not even on the VH. It appears that during some brief time frame from 1935 to about 1940, Ithaca decided to go all in on their field grades. I have not seen enough New Ithaca Fields sell to get a good feeling for market demand, but I do recall a New Ithaca Field in 20 gauge on GunBroker that was maybe 70% selling for around $1,600. That one sale would suggest that there is pointed collector demand for the New Ithaca Fields, but just how much is unclear.

[Researcher]

Like the difference in the wood of a 1930ish Parker Bros. VH-grade and a late Remington era VH-Grade!!

I've owned three of the 1935-1941 vintage New Ithaca Field Grades, 20-gauge, 16-gauge and Magnum-Ten and do agree they are great guns for the money. Unfortunately they have all lost their safe space to higher grades and hence flowed down the river of commerce.

[Phil Yearout]

Don't know enough about them to be of any help, but those are some damned fine looking shotguns!