George Ryman

[Double Lab]

Originally Posted by Stan Hoover

Great info Dave,

Appreciate your knowledge and input.

I thought perhaps the gold setter with bird in mouth were a late NID Grade 7 feature, but obviously that is not correct. The 2 Grade 7’s ordered by George H Ryman are late guns, any chance you have the serial # on the 410?

The bull elk has grown on me some, but the Grade 7 that I regret not buying had a gold dog on the trigger guard, I don’t remember the other features of that particular 7, but that gold dog I can still picture like yesterday.

There's always the one that got away isn't there???

[Stan Hoover]

Originally Posted by JAMES HALL

Be careful. The gold dog bites. Must have got you.😃

Don’t worry, they don’t bite very hard

[Researcher]

Originally Posted by Stan Hoover

Great info Dave,

Appreciate your knowledge and input.

I thought perhaps the gold setter with bird in mouth were a late NID Grade 7 feature, but obviously that is not correct. The 2 Grade 7’s ordered by George H Ryman are late guns, any chance you have the serial # on the 410?

The bull elk has grown on me some, but the Grade 7 that I regret not buying had a gold dog on the trigger guard, I don’t remember the other features of that particular 7, but that gold dog I can still picture like yesterday.

The .410-bore is 467672. George Ryman must have had an "in" with someone at Ithaca to be getting those high grades direct in 1947. All the Ithaca post war paper states that they don't accept orders from consumers or dealers and that all their production, which is far from meeting demand, goes to their Jobbers. Also states that only a limited number of doubles would be produced and just in Field Grade and No. 2E.

[Stan Hoover]

I’m curious what serial # 467671 would be, the serial number between the 2 7E’s ordered by Mr Ryman?

# 467622 is a Grade 7 12, configuration of a field gun, 30”, splinter, & double triggers. It was sold to Lewis P Kalb.

Seems to have been a fair amount of Grade 7’s in 1947.

Thinking about this earlier today, I could be all wrong but it seems like the late 20’s into the 30’s, the higher grade Ithaca’s seem to often be target guns, single trigger, beaver tail for ends, vent rib, and Monte Carlo butt stocks, later year high grades tend to be field configured guns.

Have you ever observed this Dave?

Me and a friend were together a few years ago and took a quick photo of 5 Grade 7 Ithaca’s

[Researcher]

It does seem that a lot of the No. 4E and higher were fully optioned target guns. One of my favorite pieces of Ithaca paper --

Ithaca Guns for Trapshooters.jpg

What I have observed from many of the bits of Ithaca paper that Walter has posted over the years is that a lot of these high grade NIDs languished in Ithaca inventory for years. These guns all have 1927-8 serial number by the serial number chronology and here they are being shipped out in October 1942.

Oct. 17-1942.jpg

Likewise, the No. 7E I posted Walter's note about earlier is a 1927 gun by the chronology and being shipped in 1944. Were these salesman's samples or show guns? Did they get refreshed/reconfigured at the factory from time to time? Were they something Ithaca could sell for cash during the war years? Lots of ponderables!