Jon;
Did those I grades have damascus or twist bbls?. I have not personally seen one, but have heard of a few with the twist bbls ALA the H grade, but never one with damascus. At least part of these also had cocking indicators & a Doll's Head.
I don't really know if they were early preproduction models or late ones assembled at Ithaca, using up parts. I seem to recall though that a least one or two of them had high SN's which would tend to indicate the later.
I do have a very high numbered gun which is marked H, has indicators, Doll's Head & twist bbls, but seems to have DS wood. It lacks a metal tip or escutcheon in the forend & has the uncapped half grip like a DS on the stock.
PS; This one does have the late type H scroll on the sideplates & carries the 1907 patent date. As the DS/I was indroduced about 1901 anyone carrying an '07 patent would not be a real early one. If you see another one see if it has that date in the patent list.
