doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com need help id'ing an ithaca

i was at our local club shooting two weekends ago and i mentioned to a guy that im a recent addict to old american sxs's. he says hes got this old ithaca with damascus barrels that he shoots with 28ga tubes that hes looking to sell. this past sunday he brought it with him. tells me the gun is a crass model made in 1897 or so. heres what i "know" about the gun. its a twelve gauge with i think are 28", damascus barrels with what i would call a star pattern, very clear with no exterior rust. looks more like a finger print though. the wood is base grade and very plain but in nice condition. it lacks a pistol grip cap, it was never made with one its just the wood carved back to this very nice bevel. the receiver says ithaca hammerless and looks like the lewis grade gun but without engraving. this gun also has the three position safety. the fore end has no visible checkering at all.

over all condition is quite nice, i never got a look at the bores as his tubes were in there. the gun fit me well and im considering buying it with my tax refund.

my question is, what is this gun, and how much could it be worth(without the 28ga tubes). ive looked on gunsamerica gunbroker and auctionarms and cant find anything that looks just like it.

thanks for your help.

eddie

it sounds like you're describing 'quality no.1' crass model: "fine english stub twist barrels. american walnut stock pistol grip checkered" priced about $50 at that time. just a friendly warning i know next to nothing about ithaca doubles.

1st, you need the serial number. That will help determine when it was made. Ithaca "models" are based on date.

You can look up the serial numbers here:
http://www.doublegunshop.com/dgsnos3.htm

The Grade is determined by the amount of engraving.

It should also be stamped on the gun. For instance this is a grade 3 Crass.







All 3 of these are Crass guns.



After you have the model, gauge and grade, it will depend on condition. I am sure others will be help. Walt Snyder, who posts here frequently, wrote a great book on Ithaca.

Pete

thanks jagermeister

petem: the receiver has no engraving on it other then the ithaca hammerless. i think it also has that funky bulge that tapers from the breech ball towards fore end. the damascus pattern looks just like the one in the first picture.

i'll try to get the serial number this weekend and maybe a picture.

eddie

Eddie,
Can you also post a photo? Especially of "the funky bulge."

ok i found a picture of what the gun looks like on gunsamerica. this is not the actual gun im looking into buying. i dont know whos gun this is and im very sorry if there is a problem with me posting this photo on this site.

the gun is listed as an ithaca hammerless and the gun im looking into looks just like this one except for the fluid steel barrels.



thanks

eddie

You've got a Lewis model. Barrel roll engraving should read Nitro Proof Steel. Made from about 1900-1905 if I recall correctly. Very similar to the Crass mechanically. Next model, the Minier, went to coil mainsprings.

limapapa the gun in that picture is not the one im after. it looks just like it only the gun im looking into buying has damascus barrels very similar to the pattern on those in the first picture of the crass guns further up in the post.

could the gun im looking into buying be a lewis model with damacus barrels?. im going to the gun club sunday to shoot hopefully the owner will have it with him or provide me with an email where i can get pictures of the actual gun.

thanks eveyone for your help.
eddie