KY Jon: And even worse...this gun is redundant in my line-up.

What caused me to close the deal on this gun is two things (well, maybe 3?)....32-inch Damascus tubes w/great chokes, remarkably good overall condition, and then such a meager price for this 124-year old and uniquely American-made artifact.

I wouldn't say that I'm glutted with guns quite yet, but I am getting close. Considering all of the hoops that these Colorado commies made me jump-through for this one, I sincerely hope it was worth it.

Edit to add: While these Ithaca's were admittedly built to a lower price-point, this one has some nice features. Those very long and extra-heavy tubes should be a boon to use on any clays course, moreover the hammer springs on this unit are simply lovely (and as I mentioned earlier, the firing pins fully retract). Neither of my other two hammer guns do that and both are from more well-respected lineages (the hammers on my '01 Smith do not cock anywhere near as smoothly [& one is simply a bear at times]).

I may have to hire a "gun-bearer" to lug the thing around for me (or rent a golf cart) but how often do you find something this old (and frankly, this unusual {whoever heard of a "double-thick breech" before this one?}) that is still fully-serviceable and that requires zero modifications for use in the present day? Most of the American-made hammer-guns I've run across over the years are pretty used-up (they were simple guns that were all used very hard) and many have way too-much drop for my now-contemporary tastes. This one could still surprise me, but I doubt it (as I gave it a fairly serious once-over before ponying-up) and it had that "magical-effect" that so-many of my better shooters do for me....it "spoke to me" when I threw it up to my shoulder.

Always a good sign.

Last edited by Lloyd3; 04/20/25 04:32 PM.