doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca NID?

A guy that works in the shop here just told me he has inherited his grandfathers old shotgun. It has colors on the back metal part that look like oil on water,and has 2 long barrels that are blue or black. His words, not mine. His mother told him that his grand father purchased it right around the "great depression". He offered it to me because he knows I travel around birdhunting every year. His wife doesn't like guns, and wants it out of the house. What year did Ithaca start producing the NID? What serial number started them off. He thinks it is a 12 ga., but not sure. Were all NID's 2 3/4" chambers? All safe with modern light loads? it would be nice to have an old gun, that didn't reqire 2 1/2" shells.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

RGSO22, I don't have Walt's excellant book by me right now and I cannot look up the exact serial numbers, but around 1925/1926 Ithaca started building the NID replacing its Flues model. If its a 12 gauge then it has 2 3/4 chambers. Like all American built shotguns NID's are built rock solid and tough, I have no worries about throwing modern loads through mine, But how do you know its an NID??
All the best

treblig1958,
I don't know it's an NID.. I am only interested in it if it is an NID. He called home, and the serial # is in the 45500 range. I was hoping someone could tell me what it was before having him bring it to me.

Bill

NID's started at serial number 425,000.

That would be a Crass model built in 1900.

Larry

RGS022,

I wouldn't be to quick to dismiss it if it's not an NID.
It could be a nice example of one of the older models.

Regards,
Ken

Sorry, typing error. I dropped a digit. The serial number is 454XXX I guess that makes it an NID? I will tell the guy to bring it in tomorrow. I'll let you know how it is. Any chance it could be a straight grip at that point in time?
Bill

RGS: you might be getting yourself a great gun! The 'oil on water' is the original case colors. See http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view...&offset=450
The gun in that pic is an early NID with cocking indicators.
On the bottom of the chamber end of the brls should be stamped a number indicating choke: 4=Full, 3=Imp Mod, 2=Mod, and 1=IC.
NIDs are probably the last great deals out there but do the maybe 80 year old wood a favor and avoid serious boomers like the 1 3/8 oz Fiocchi GPs or 1 1/4 oz Federal Wing Shok High Velocity loads.
It's probably well past a good check and clean also-let us know where you are and we might be able to recomend a doublegun specialist smith near you.

revdocdrew ,
I knew what he meant when he said colors like oil on water on the back metal part. I think this gun was probably 1928-1930 build date. I am starting to get excited, this may be a really clean original gun. His grandfather died in the early seventies, at 81 years of age. His mother had the gun in the closet till now. I hope it is nice. He says there is no rust, or scratches on the wood. I will know tomorrow evening.
I only shoot 1 1/8th oz handloads at 1150-1175 fps. I can't handle much recoil since the open heart surgery. No worries about breaking the wrist.

Bill

I am supposed to follow this guy home tonight to check out the old Ithaca. Were all of the guns produced after serial number 425000 Nid's? The guy says there is only a "star" pattern showing on the sides and bottom of the action. It has 2 pins behind the fences. Cocking indicators? No dogs or lettering. Does this seem legit, or am I wasting my time on an old refish that polished off any engraving?

Bill