Ithaca Lewis Model

Researcher · 08-31-2021, 08:38 PM

https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads.../#post-4575824

Stan Hoover · 09-02-2021, 12:07 PM

Dave,
Thanks for bringing these #’s to light, I was unaware of these #’s and went looking on a few of my guns. I found 4 different guns with #’s under the extractors, non on ejector guns. 2 of these are Lewis guns, 1 is the Minier model, and 1 is a 1st year Flues guns.

#1 photo Is Lewis, 62,000 range. This would seem to almost signify it was produced in 1892, but it is 1902 gun?

#2 photo is Lewis, 63,000 range. This is a 1902 gun also, these marks almost seem to signify choke markings by the 3 and 2, but why the small o?

#3 photo is Flues 180,000 range. This is 1908 gun, 1st year Flues, these marks more closely resemble the way the gun pictured by you is showing Dave.

So this shows 3 somewhat different styles of marking them, what they represent I'm not sure, would be fun to figure it out.
I gave Walt Snyder a call yesterday, he of course knew what I was talking about but said he never was able to find or discover what these #'s represent.

John Eurom · 09-03-2021, 05:47 AM

Gentlemen,

After looking at 32 Ithaca doubles I can say, I believe the Riddle is solved. Some time around the start of the 3rd type Crass frame, these stamps began appearing on both hammerless and NIG models. All my examples from 346xx (Crass) through 1879xx (Flues) has these stamps. It was not until I looked at the underside of the extractor itself that it clicked.

Answer solved,

John

Stan Hoover · 09-03-2021, 08:08 AM

John,
just so I'm understanding, are you saying these numbers were only for matching barrels to extractors?
Thanks,
Stan Hoover

PS: I'll have to look at my Crass models again, I didn't think any of them had these marks.

John Eurom · 09-03-2021, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan Hoover

John,
just so I'm understanding, are you saying these numbers were only for matching barrels to extractors?
Thanks,
Stan Hoover

Stan, Yes, I believe them to be assembly numbers used to pair the extractors to the barrel sets.

There is another observation made during this examination. By ser# 240xx (type 1 Crass) and #277xx (type 2 Crass), the complete serial number is stamped on the extractor.

John