doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com SKB 400

I think Mitsui was the importer.

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.

Back in the late '70's I owned an Ithaca/SKB Model 400 12-ga. 26" SK/SK, SST, PG, beavertail, 14" LOP to a factory pad, I purchased it from a private individual that also had the same gun in a 20-ga. version. My 12-ga. and the other 20-ga. gun I mentioned had satin oil finishes with much fancier figured stocks than the linked Mitsui gun's wood and hi-gloss finish.

These indeed are scarce guns. There may have been some Model 400's choked something other than SK/SK--but I've never seen one. There were also a few Model 480's imported, these of course were furnished with straight grips.

This one belonged to Outdoor legend Grit's Gresham.Can we tell what year by it's serial #?

I don't know of any way to determine year of production on an SKB, and the Japanese don't include date codes among their proofmarks. I just checked an article I did on SKB doubles about 6 years ago. The end of the Ithaca/SKB partnership was announced Jan 77, and the Mitsui period did not last long. So my guess would be it's a 1977 or 78 gun.

I once had my hands on a Model 300 (also pretty rare) that was choked M/F. Can't say I ever handled a 400 so choked, but I would guess there are probably a few out there--but darned few of either the 300, 400, or 480 in any configuration.

Thanks Guy's.I guess being a Mitsui gun would put it in a short time frame.Interesting.Funny they don't use date code's and such.It was easier for me to get info on my Win 21 and Parker pigeon gun.

Well, you learn something every day on here. I have an 800 SKB and the engraving is almost a perfect match to this gun. When I went to check it, I found out it is also imported by Mitsui. I worder if they only imported high grade SKB guns. Thanks, Frank

Is the 800 straight or pistol grip?

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.

Not sure about mod. 400 but have seen 70s vintage 20br 26" ic/mod ejector with st. grip in excellent shape for $1200. I think it went by mod. 280 designation when it was brought over by Ithaca. Not a bad little gun and more than a match for the BSS.