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.

[Bruce P Bruner]

And the butt pad:

[charlie cleveland]

hope she cleans up it will make good eye candy when finished......charlie

[Craig Larter]

There would be no question in my mind, have Breck redo the barrels.

[Bruce Hering]

Originally Posted by Craig Larter

There would be no question in my mind, have Breck redo the barrels.

I will second that..... Great looking gun.... shoot it well. I am waiting for Breck to finish a set of 32" Chain pattern A.J. Aubrey barrels as we speak.

[Bruce P Bruner]

I got an early start today removing the oxidation on the barrels, they felt unbelievably rough to the touch. After plenty of elbow grease they are now nice and smooth. Visually there is some spotting but so much better than before. Breck will get the barrels when he has an opening but for now I can at least be satisfied I did what I could.

[charlie cleveland]

nice looking gun shows real well...charlie

[Bruce P Bruner]

I gave the Ithaca "Crass" and a Parker VH a bit of a workout yesterday, taking advantage of a 72 degree December day here in Colorado. I shot a mixture of Black Powder and some B&P 2-1/2" low pressure Smokeless through the Damascus Ithaca. The Parker digested the Remington STS "Premier" green ones. I only fired around 30 times, crushed many clays and a few were barely broken, however my son said none were missed.
The factory Remington "Premier" smoked more clays than the Black Powder shells, probably due to having the advantage of a shot cup. It was a nice outing about an hour or so from home.
On the way home I stopped to see my local gunsmith and have an unsightly vintage Ithaca "glow worm" front sight removed from the 1902 "Monte Carlo" VH. I chose a very small gold skirted bead, five minutes and $4 later we were on our way.

[Richard Flanders]

A friend of mine in Missoula had an Ithaca very similar to this that had been in his family for some time. It was a 2-bbl set and in a really nice leather slip case. I could have had it for $3200, which is what some auction outfit gave him for it. Have always regretted not getting that one. It was in pristine condition with very nice damascus bbls and was engraved even more and more deeply than this one, if I remember correctly. I've never seen another like it before or since.

[Bruce P Bruner]

The Ithaca was sourced from a popular online auction. It was misrepresented as a Lewis with 28” barrels. I knew it was a Crass and fortunately the barrels are 30”. The opening bid was $1K with a buy it now of $3K. No one else bid so it was secured for the opening price. I was the only sucker in the crowd. I doubt it was a steal but I’ve been seeking an antique double with chain Damascus for quite some time. I had held a chain Damascus grade II Syracuse LC Smith but the horrid lateral crease in one of the barrels was a deal killer, that and it was priced a few hundred more than the Ithaca.
When shooting the Ithaca and the Parker VH the Parker is a better fit, though the LOP difference is 3/4”, the Ithaca at 14” and the VH at 14-3/4”. The big difference is the drop at the heal, Ithaca is 2-7/8”, VH is 3-1/2”, though the Parker has a factory Monte Carlo stock that fits me like a glove. Luckily I’m flexible an have good success with various stock configurations.
Notice the deep remaining case color by the trigger guard, I’m sure it was a very impressive gun before the colors disappeared.
Dusted clay in last photo.