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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,963 Likes: 166
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,963 Likes: 166 |
I use to think that was the case. The first cracked frame Flues I saw was a 28-gauge in a shop in Fredericksburg, Virginia, probably a good four decades ago. But, a few years ago I scored a packet of 1932-33 letters between a customer in Cumberland, Maryland, and Ithaca Gun Co. concerning a cracked frame 10-gauge No. 4 that was purchased in 1921, and according to the customer had only fired maybe 75 to 80 cartridges in the ensuing eleven years.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
Back when I started shooting the standard 20 gauge "Field" load was 2Ľ-7/8 @ around 1135 fps as I recall. Many modern-day Big Box 7/8 oz loads are around 1295 fps so they will operate those stinking gas operated semi-autos. I suspect this increased velocity was the major cause of the frame cracking.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 534 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 534 Likes: 23 |
.018 at 8” is way too thin for me. Are you sure about those measurements? 14-16” + maybe but not at 8”’s. My hand is there or within a couple inches. Heck my face is too close. I was working all day today but have the dimensions in my notebook at the shop. I will try to look at them tommorow and verify those numbers. I have another 20 ga Flues almost identical that had much thicker barrels but badly pitted bores. I have opened up the bores on them to 0.626" @ .032" MWT. There is still some pitting visible. The chambers are 2-3/4" with a ring of dark pitting just before the forcing cones. Not sure how I want to proceed. John
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,211 Likes: 57
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,211 Likes: 57 |
The gun in question is 6 lbs 7.2 oz. Left barrels wall minimum is .045 and right barrel .043. I suppose if I wanted a 6 lb gun the walls might end up in the low .020's.
I haven't had anyone address the numbers/letters on the barrels that are not the serial number. I wonder if this was some type of cataloguing system Ithaca had.
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 534 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 534 Likes: 23 |
I haven't had anyone address the numbers/letters on the barrels that are not the serial number. I wonder if this was some type of cataloguing system Ithaca had. Tamid, Can you provide a picture of the numbers in question? Are they the same on the frame and barrel flats? If you look at the serial number & the number in question, "SB8C9TB", the 3rd and 5th character are the same. Could it be an over stamp or buffed out serial number? John
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 534 Likes: 23
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 534 Likes: 23 |
.018 at 8” is way too thin for me. Are you sure about those measurements? 14-16” + maybe but not at 8”’s. My hand is there or within a couple inches. Heck my face is too close. KY Jon, Here are the actual dimensions from my notes: From BF : 8" 9" 10" 11" 12" 13" 14" 16" LH MWT : .040" .033" .026" .021" .020" .018" .019" .017" RH MWT : .042" .034" .026" .022" .020" .018" .017" .017" This gets me out to 11" before the .020" MIN but still quite thin @ 9-10". I have plenty of other choices of doubleguns to shoot, so this one could be relegated to a wall or given a purpose as a test subject. Any suggestions? John
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,963 Likes: 166
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,963 Likes: 166 |
the number in question, "SB8C9TB" The first part of that is probably SB&Co. the division of Crucible Steel that provided the rough tubes to Ithaca.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,883 Likes: 520
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,883 Likes: 520 |
Flues  If 'G' or 'T' it may be Gautier or Tacony. Gautier Steel was a division of Cambria Iron Co., Allegheny Co., PA. Dudley G. Gautier was president of the Philadelphia Steel & Forging Co. and D.G. Gautier & Co. was listed as an agent for both Sanderson Brothers & Co. and Tacony Iron Works (1881-1910) of Philadelphia. We've seen Smith barrels with 'F', 'P' and 'C' In addition to Sanderson Bros. Steel Works in Syracuse, New York, Crucible operated the following steel works in 1902. https://books.google.com/books?id=2yYqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA331&lpg PennsylvaniaAluquippa Steel Works Beaver Falls Steel Works Black Diamond Steel Works Crescent Steel Works Howe, Brown & Co. Works La Belle Steel Works Pittsburgh Steel Works Singer, Nimick & Co. Works New JerseyAtha Steel Co. West Bergen Steel Works
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