doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca Flues 29 Gauge

Yesterday I looked at a very nicely restored 20 gauge Ithaca Flues with 28" M&F barrels. Looks AS-NEW. Asking price was $1150.

1. Is a fair/high/low price for this gun?

2. Can one safely fire modern promo ammo in a FLUES? I've read of some frame problems?

THANKS.

Jerry

Jerry, it might be hard to find shells for that 29 Bore though, eh?
franc

This model and gauge has had some bad press of late, and all prolly due to the use of modern promo shells.
If you can't find low pressure shells for it, don't buy it!

The standard chambering for Ithaca 20-gauge guns was 2 1/2 inches throughout the Flues period, same for their 28-gauge guns. In the earlier Flues era Ithaca advertised very light weights for their smallbores -- 4 3/4 pound 28-gauges and 5 1/4 pound 20-gauges. These are the guns that have very thin frame sides that have been known to crack, and are also known for very thin barrels. These guns did not stand up well to the Super-X type 2 3/4 inch ammo that the North American nimrod began shoving in them around 1922. Over the years the advertised weights for Flues Model Ithacas crept up --

1912-13 20-gauge 5 1/4 to 5 1/2, 28-gauge 4 3/4 to 5 1/4

1914-15 20-gauge 5 1/4 to 5 1/2, 28-gauge 4 3/4 to 5 1/4

1919 20-gauge 5 1/2 to 6, 28-gauge 5 to 5 1/2

1925 20-gauge 6 to 6 1/2, 28-gauge 5 3/4 to 6 1/4

To answer the other question. I think that this is a very fair price. Not a steal, but fair.
If you post the serial number and grade, we may be able to advise you more fully. The gun can be dated from the serial number and you can make a more informed decision about shooting Winchester AAs and/or lower pressure shells. The grade will certainly influence the value.
Best,
John