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Forums10
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 140
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 140 |
Besides the newer 385 &485,the model 400 was the highest grade side by side back then?
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 458 Likes: 21
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 458 Likes: 21 |
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598 |
Patriot, the Model 400 was definitely imported by Ithaca--just that you don't see very many of them.
Mitsui picked up the importation of SKB shotguns for a fairly short period of time, right after the "divorce" with Ithaca. That would be mid to late 70's, definitely prior to 1980. Same guns as those previously imported by Ithaca, minus the "Raybar" front sight. From http://www.skbshotguns.com/faq.php How old is my gun?
We only have records of firearms that we have imported. SKB Shotguns USA does not have access to records from previous importers. Typically we have information available for guns with serial number prefixes of NS, NSG, NA, and AS. Shotguns imported by "Ithaca Gun Company" were manufactured from 1969 to 1978. Shotguns imported by Mitsui (Chicago, IL) were manufactured from 1981 to 1984. The skbshotguns.com info seems to indicate a 2-3 year gap during which no guns were imported. Pete
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 458 Likes: 21
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 458 Likes: 21 |
Thanks, Pete. One big question left is how these models are valued. Dealers and buyers seem at a loss to identify them with a current model so there is a lot of misinformation about them. Are they any different from other boxlock SKB's mechanically or is the only difference cosmetics and the model numbers assigned Mitsui imported SKB's? Are these not the same as the current SKB line?
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350 |
Can't help on values except discriminating shooters know SKB in all iterations are reliables, best buys, and yours in class of its own. My Model 500 o/u 20ga vr sst via Mitsui is common by comparison but same tolerances and finish bought for $CAN180 I think in late 70s worth now considerably more. It's also my go-to gun. IC/M does everything for me from grouse to geese.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,392 Likes: 107
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,392 Likes: 107 |
Pete, the above information on dates of importation for SKB shotguns is in error. Or at least it does not agree with information from Ithaca catalogs. Walt Snyder--who may be able to comment further--sent me some catalog copy when I was doing a 2-part article on SKB's for Shooting Sportsman several years ago. The 1967 Ithaca catalog shows both the Models 100 and 200E side by sides, and the 500 and 600 OU's. I wrote in my article that 1967 was the year of their debut. The same article contains a quote, directly from an Ithaca news release, January 1977, announcing the end of their partnership with SKB. The announcement added that Mitsui would continue to import the SKB guns. My article also notes--don't have the source of this piece of information--that SKB was bankrupt by 1980. Later, of course, the company emerged from bankruptcy, and in fact side by sides were very briefly imported in the late 1980's. So I think the Mitsui dates are off too, although I am not as positive about those as I am the Ithaca information.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598 |
Larry,
Thanks for correcting their errors. I have found more than 1 "expert source website" that gave erroneous information. I trust your research any day of the week.
Pete
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,564 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,564 Likes: 23 |
I can't recall ever having seen an SKB Model 100 (the basic extractor gun) as a Mitsui import, although I have seen 200's--and they were the least expensive sxs with automatic ejectors.
SKB's numbered 500 and up were all OU's, to my knowledge. And I don't believe there were "field" versions of the 700 and 800; rather, just target models (trap and skeet). The only straight grip OU of the original Ithaca SKB imports was the 680. Anything is possible. I purchased a Model 700 O/U in Japan in 1989 (NIB) and it is factory IC/Mod and marked as such on the barrel flats. Price back then (and this was new mind you) was $190. PS. I was offered two for that price and bought one for my friend and didn't by the other for myself. Think I was bitten by the Weatherby Athena disease at that time and had three of them (two 20's and a 12). All of those are long since sold. The only Japanese made O/U in the inventory is a Winchester 101 Pigeon Grade in 20 gauge. I keep thinking about selling it, but I need to have a least one o/u in my inventory.
foxes rule
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,392 Likes: 107
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,392 Likes: 107 |
Larry,
Thanks for correcting their errors. I have found more than 1 "expert source website" that gave erroneous information. I trust your research any day of the week.
Pete Thanks, Pete! But I must tip my cap to Walt Snyder for having provided me with the Ithaca catalog copy, and with the press release announcing their "divorce" from SKB. To answer the question about the highest grade Ithaca SKB side by side: Far as I know, the 400/480 were the highest grade guns imported.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4 |
I've got a SKB 400 in F/I 28" barrels that I bought used 10 years ago in Japan. Mine is in storage in the states but its heavily engraved with quality wood like the one posted on the last page of this thread. I believe it was made in the late 70's or early 80's and it was produced by SKB here but not for export to the US. I've seen more than a thousand used doubles since I've been here and as far as side by side SKB's go, I've bought several SKB Royal lights and SKB 200's but I've never seen another SKB 400. That makes them rare here as well.
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