I think a good part of the answer is that most commonly available Ithaca doubles are simply not as pretty as comparable guns from Parker, Smith and Fox. I have at least one of each, and the Ithaca (Flues 12) looks a bit clumsy next to the others. Fabulous wood on the Ithaca, though, for a field gun. The higher grade Ithacas can hold their own with the competition.