10 Gauge, A View from the Past

[Joe Graziano]

I love the Model 32 platform. I’ve had a 3200, K80 and K32. I currently use a K32 for trap, skeet and clays. I shoot a 32 in skeet gun but the gun fits me so well, it just works for me. I would love a Model 21. To me, they are just beautiful and rock solid. My dad’s dream gun has always been a Model 21 in 16 ga. My goal is to get him one next year for his 80th birthday.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by John Dallas

32's and K80's are great target guns. The 3200 has many of the same features. My 3200 is perhaps the gun I shoot better than any other. Scored a punch last weekend at a 5 stand shoot in Mich with it.

An R-32 , K-32 or K-80 and the K-20 aren’t bad as dove guns if a person is so inclined . While I’ve never been to South America for dove if I had my druthers and was certain quality shells could be had a pair of K-20’s with 20 and 28 gauge barrels would be the thing as far as I’m concerned !

[Researcher]

Had some time today and looked for some Ithaca Gun Co. Magnum-Ten ads. From my limited search it doesn't seem they launched an advertising blitz for the big gun. In the July 1932, sporting magazines an ad like this appeared with the launch articles --

National Sportsman, July 1932.jpeg
National Sportsman, July 1932

From then on it seems from my limited search that Ithaca Gun Co. ran a smaller Magnum-Ten ad each August.

National Sportsman, Aug. 1933.jpeg
National Sportsman, August 1933

National Sportsman, Aug. 1934.jpeg
National Sportsman, August 1934

National Sportsman, Aug. 1935.jpeg
National Sportsman, August 1935

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Joe Graziano

My dad’s dream gun has always been a Model 21 in 16 ga. My goal is to get him one next year for his 80th birthday.

That’s great ! My pop turned 83 in December only things I ever heard him speak a whole lot about were a Ruger #1B in 243 WIN so I got him one for Christmas about 12 years ago and a Parker VHE 20 gauge . We took care of the Parker about five years ago . I think he’d like an honest Richmond musket , but the prices they get for those and as easy as it is to get taken I think we’ll pass on that one ! The sad part is my pops got Parkinson’s and not fired a gunnin fifteen years . He just likes having them and looking from time to time . I took his 243 worked up a couple loads and killed a couple deer . The VHE we both actually wanted that so after the joint effort of acquiring it I take it out and excercise it every so often on skeet or dove or pheasents .

[Bob Brown]

Dave, do you know if Ithaca ever changed their mag 10 ad to recognize their 12 gauge 3" magnum built on the mag 10 frame as the heaviest 12 gauge load available?

Don't wait too long to buy your dad his dream gun. When I was a kid my dad used to say that he really wanted a Winchester 490 .22 to match his model 100 .308. With seven kids and having other cheaper .22s, he just couldn't justify it. About 10 or 12 years ago at an auction sale for a gun shop that was shutting down they had a new in the box 490 that was found buried in the stock room. I bought it and tried to give it to him, but Dad said I might as well keep it as he didn't think he could get out and use it. He passed away last summer. The two rifles did get together in the end though.

[Mills]

Originally Posted by Mark Ray

I always felt the same way, but early this year I acquired a very early 30” dt, splinter, pg Model 21. I simply cannot miss with it. It does feel heavy, until I throw it up.....zero learning curve with this gun....

That is just what I have. I think 1934 production, 30" bbls, splinter fore end and double triggers.

[Joe Graziano]

Craig, there is something about dads and shotguns and dogs. Although your dad can't shoot them anymore, I'm glad he enjoys having them around and you shooting them for him. Dad and I will be at the sportsman's show soon in Harrisburg. I treasure those times together, in the field and out. BTW, I see you are in Orange. I got my 2-year-old GSP from a breeder there. Great pointer, insane house pet but I love him. Today, another training class to make him even more loveable and livable.

[Mills]

Would love to have an Ithaca magnum 12. Someday, but trying to focus on small bores this year

[charlie cleveland]

the ithaca heavy duck guns have 2 7/8 chambers with steel barrels i shoot 3 inch heavy loads in mine got it from russ jackson...took a coupla good turkeys with this gun...these guns are affordable too....are the ithaca 12 ga magnums marked as such....charlie

[Researcher]

The true Ithaca 12-gauge 3-inch magnums were built on the same long NID frame, with the lug through the bottom, as the Magnum-Tens, with serial numbers from 500000 to 501011. The accounting Ithaca did back in the 1960s, showed they made 887 Magnum-Tens, and only made 87 Magnum-12s. Ithaca Gun Co. didn't begin cataloging the Magnum-12 until their 1937 catalogs, the first catalogs without the Super-Ten. However, I've recorded Magnum-12s with serial numbers as low as 500144, a No. 2E at the Cabelas flagship store in November 2002. Had a ring bulge behind the choke in the left barrel. The Magnum-12s were cataloged with 30-inch barrels, but I've seen them with 32- and 34-inch barrels. The No. 2E I mentioned above had 32-inch barrels and this No. 1 --

500155 02.jpg

500155 03.jpg

has 34-inch. The only $1000 grade NID was this Magnum-12 Walter Snyder did an article on in the latest The Double Gun Journal --

500536 03.jpg