doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca Lewis model or something else ?????

I have just acquired an old Ithaca double in about 80 percent condition with 2 3/4 inch chambers. Serial number 68472. The gun is marked on the sides with a banner that says Ithaca hammerless. The gun has Nitro Proof Steele engraved on the rib. The gun was sold to me as a Lewis model but the serial number may indicate that the gun is indeed a Crass model. Information Please????

The serial number list provided on this site via Galazans came from information Ithaca put out back about 1960. It was published in the 1964 Gun Digest, in Wallace Labisky's article on Ithaca Scatterguns. It wasn't in Labisky's article on Ithaca doubles in the October 1961 Shooting Times.

Walter Snyder in his research came up with a revised serial number list that is published in the second edition of his Ithaca book. It has the Lewis Model beginning in 1901 with serial number 55000. From Walter's list your gun would have been made in 1902.

That list published on this site doesn't even include the Minier Model (1906 to 1908) that was produced between the Lewis and the Flues. It probably involves copyright laws, but it would be great if Dave Weber could put the revised Ithaca serial number compilation on this site.

It is a Lewis model. They start with serial 55000 for the most part. Your gun is well within the the Lewis range.

Tom- Walt's book, pg 29, lists it as a Lewis from 1902. Are there four or five screws visable With stock in place? Is the frame reinforced with a bolster below the water table continuing behind the fences? Four screws visable is a Lewis, five a Crass. I have never seen a Crass so reinforced but the few Lewis' I've seen all were. Either way. i like 'em.

Cary

Edit: Dave and Walt posted while I was on the phone. Sorry to duplicate the information they had already given you.

Gentlemen:
Thank you for your quick replies and good information.
Warmest regards,
Tom