doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com LeFever-Ithaca nitro special

Dr Bob: A 1922 Nitro Special came to Brad Bachelder for a refurbish and reblue and that's what he found. Likely a tube in the wrong bin the Monday after St. Patrick's Day

Thanks for all the information. I was mistaken, the Ithaca 16 gauge gun was not marked Syracuse. The side plates factory engravings were faint (the gun was probably re-blued). The Lefever 12 gauge, serial num. 607xx, was marked Syracuse, but it also looked re-blued over pitting on the outside of the loose barrels.
The JC Higgins was marked model 100 and 2 3/4" , mod. on one barrel and full on the other, on the top near the breach. It looked almost new as to bluing and oil finish on the wood (not shiny varnish finish). It looked "similar" in appearance to a Winchester model 12. The single trigger was non selective. I have heard these guns were of very good quality when Sear's first contracted them ("Sear's Best" probably from AYA), later production the quality dropped.
If you get one it's luck of the draw if it's finely made or a problematic poor shooter depending on year of production.
Still learning. Thanks Again

Drew,
Or snuck ou the back door in pieces in a lunch bucket.

I sure like mine



Mike

The J C Higgins, to my understanding, were all made on the 12 gauge frame, regardless as to whether or not they were barreled in 16 or 20 ga. From that perspective , you end up with a rather heavy small bore (usually 7 plus pounds)suitable for clays, but by today's standards, a rather hefty piece for field use.

Welcome kimbo on your first post

The gun is sturdy and well suited for heavier loads
or heavy enough for clays and skeet.

Also perfect for doves or for blocking at pheasant hunts.

I have a personal rule for doves and upland game, I use a different gun every day so the girls do not fight when put up.

What gun do you use for your field use??

Mike

That's the first time I heard later 100s were poor quality!! They had the long receiver bar like the model 21 and looked very much like a 21. Sears only sold them for 4 years, then the Matador with SST came out in the last year 100s were being sold. Never saw a 100 without Sears name on it. Matadors were never sold by Sears; sold by Firearms International.

Mike,

Thank you for the warm welcome.

While I have never posted on DoubleGun BBS before, I have been a frequent reader for several years, and am familiar with many of the names and monikers, including yours.

You may be familiar with me through many hundreds of posts at "strato-caster" on other sites such as ShotgunWorld, Upland Journal, Shooting Sportsman, 16ga.com and Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors. I believe I got pranked by my 8 year old little girl when I signed on to this site, so unless I can easily change it, "Kimbo" (a nickname my dad gave to me as a kid) it will be...


To ask what I shoot in the field is to open a can of worms, as I shoot o/u's, sxs, autos, and pumps. I primarily hunt upland (quail,chukar and pheasant) with sxs and o/us due to their easy carry and ability to break open for safety purposes. For pass shooting dove or waterfowl, autos and pumps get the nod. My 20, 28, and 410 o/u's are often used for dove.

I like them all and shoot all of my shotguns rather well, with the exception of those I have yet to have properly fitted to me.

I do indeed own a AyA/JC Higgins Model 100 in 12 ga. (an earlier '53-'54 as I recall) bought back in August after a four year search, and it is undoubtedly a well made gun. I have been on the prowl for a 16 ga. (a pet favorite) for an equal amount of time, having passed up a few due to condition. Super X1, Roger Overunder and Weagle (regulars over at SW Spanish Gun forum) convinced me of their attributes, and from what I have seen, they are spot on.

I have not spent an adequate amount of time shooting my Model 100 as I purchased it around the time my father passed and the beginning of this subsequent upland season. Hunting season ends this weekend so it is my hope that I can spend some time at the skeet field or sporting clays course over the coming months and become more familiar with her.

Kim
aka Strato-caster

Up, heading duck hunting
Again Welcome
Mike