doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca 12 guage s/s

I recently inherited an old ithaca 12 guage serial 339xxx in pretty good shape, a little case color left but with a small chip out of the upper left stock. I want to clean it and can not get the forend off. It has a splinter forearm with a single machine screw just forward of the hinge. I have removed the screw but the forearm does not budge and I do not want to force it. Any additional info on the gun would be greatly appreciated.

From the serial number it sounds like a Flues Model. As far as that screw goes that does not sound original. You should just be able to pull it off.

Judging from the serial number, your gun is a Flues model dating to the 1919/20 time period. If it is a field model you just pull off the fore-end from the front.

Some of them have a pretty strong spring. Put the screw back where you found it before you begin any hard pulling. If you can feel the spring pressure, go ahead and pry it on off ( I have one I have to use a ruler on). If finger presssure won't budge it, don't pry it with anything, just take it to a gunsmith...Geo

Welcome to the site!

Thank you both for the help. Indeed the forearm pulled off as the help suggested. I also need more help now. In trying to take the stock off I also ran into a problem. The screws are removed and the stock starts to slide out but then apparently hangs up on the safety. The safety slide lifts up slightly as I try to remove the stock the remainder of the way and apparently prevents the removal of the stock. Since I do not want to force it, any suggestions on what I am doing wrong? Also now that I can see the serial numbers clearly I realize the numbers start with 366xxx so it must be a later gun from the 20s.

Thanks, Al

The 366XXX serial number would still be in the Flues range and date from 1922/23. I better let someone else walk you through the stock removal. Its a challenge every time I do it...Geo

If the bottom plate is off(trigger plate) ,there should be no problem taking off the stock .....if it too is stubborn( double check that all screw's are out) and give a couple careful tap's with a rawhide mallet it.... should pop out.

take your time,and good luck

Once again thanks for the help. Indeed once the trigger plate was removed there was no problem removing the stock. Should clean up very nicely since it looks like it was oiled frequently just not taken apart for a good cleaning. Even though a lot of the bluing is gone from the barrel that rested against the upper arm during the familiar "gun in the crook of the arm carry" there is a surprising amount of color left from the case hardening.
Great site, I just do not normally need help with my Berettas but the help on this one is certainly appreciated. I will certainly pass this site along to everyone at my club (Fin, Fur and Feather Chaplin, CT).

Is the top lever still in the far right position and could it be that it is stopping the stock from rising over the safety?