doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca Flues

I just ran across a nice example of a Flues Model in 20-gauge. Very good weight (5 3/4 lbs) and dimensions (14 1/4 LOP to the plate, 28-tubes), it even has some very attractive light engraving. I've just not seen many 20s, and most (if not all) that I have run across have been badly used-up. The price tag seemed shockingly inexpensive. Is there something about the Flues guns that I don't know about? I would assume that because of it's rather petite nature, that lower pressure/lower velocity shells would be good policy. Is there something else?

You got the scoop. They are sweet handling guns. IMO, they do not deserve the reputation they have acquired.

If the gun is sound and fits you, go for it. I love them. Especially the 20 with 28" barrels. Feed it LP ammo and you will be in high cotton.

Enjoy!

The gun should have 2 1/2" (or slightly shorter) chambers. If not, measure wall thickness very carefully at the end of the chambers and into the forcing cones.

Researcher posted a helpful summary of Flues grades here
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=428929#Post428929

You know, before my 'education' If it had steel barrels, I shot whatever I had. Never had a problem.

When I was a boy my dad had a field grade 12ga with "smokeless powder steel" barrels that digested at least 3 boxes of Remington high brass heavy field load 6's every year for decades without a hickup. That gun kicked HARD but it is still tight to this day.

At 15 years old, a buddy and I were hunting ducks on the creek. when I fired the Flues, both barrels went off at what seemed like the same time. Thought it had blown up, but it turned out to be a broken trigger spring.

Years later, I had it refurbished. The smith showed me a crack in the receiver on the water table in the thin section on the right side. Welded it up and recase colored it. Still shooting it today although it gets a steady diet of <6k 1 oz loads now.
Unknowingly shot it a number of years after it doubled with the cracked receiver. Assuming that's what cracked it.

Took a lickin and kept on tickin.

12ga field Flues
12ga 1S Flues
16ga 1S 30" Krupp Flues
20ga 1-1/2 damascus Flues
28ga gr2 Flues

Wonderful little doubles. Mine has 30" bbls but is a tad on the heavy side I think, 6lbs 6oz.

Thanks folks! It's always a treat to pick up an American gun that isn't big and tanky. My upland hunting almost always involves lots of walking and a gun at (or slightly under) 6lbs is always the better choice. The few American guns that seem to regularly achieve this surprisingly uncommon weigh-point are almost always priced into the stratosphere (i.e., graded Parkers, Lefevers, and Foxes). The few exceptions I've encountered are the early sub-gauge Sterlingworths and now this little Flues. Always fun to learn something new. I may go back and pay this gun another visit.

When I use to live near KTP, they always a Flues or two kicking around on the gun racks. Found them light and swift, and pointed well. Never handled one with 30" or 32" barrels, but I feel they point better then they swing. Thusly a good grouse gun IMO.

Statement about Ithaca Flues made in Ebonics:



English Translation of the statement above:

When I used to live near KTP, there was always a Flues or two kicking around on the gun racks.

Wow. I'm never surprised that you flunked out of college nca225. The question is, how in hell did you ever get in?