(Sheepishly: Yeah, i did it). I'm New to the forums & have been considering much about relative merits to originality. I duly appreciate originality in these (as in things like antique furnture or anything collectible), but there are limits and the grey lines in my head committed me to what you see in these pics. Here'r some before-after. I want to learn of and consider as many perspectives as possible on this because in the future I will surely face similar decisions.

As a new shooter & in having chosen & purchased 1927/28 field grade Ithaca NIDs, in 410,20,12, i decided to have the 20&12 reblacked/case hardened/wood refinished. The two receivers were, in my less-learned eyes, sorta kinda "in the white." They were also relatively very less expensive compared to the worn but very nice 410. Considering the 20&12 would be re-case colored i decided that I needed also to try to lift the wood back to better condition with refinish and recheckering (they seemed a bit rough, others might disagree, as in an earlier post where I pictured a pretty 'red' hued stock on the 20 and now shown below again). Refinish was w/ some Tru-Oil & my boiled linseed atop. Maybe I didn't need to have the wood done; I have seen some comments by others in regards to such that it would have been far better to have just left them alone. However i was determined to "match" the 20/12 to the nicer condition of the 410 (pictured as the bottom piece in the triplets shots). I know each shotgun ought be judged on its own merits and left to its own devices but as a personal "set" i just couldn't leave the two alone. Pics are unadulterated and w/out flash to be as natural as can be. Unfortunately, the 12 grew a top side cracking (from a craze) after patterning. Any suggestions on this are welcomed as well. Keep shooting and watch it, or get it stabilized asap?

I appreciate any thoughts particularly on if one decides to recolor/blue, if you should leave wood (described as 'okay') alone in order to keep its patina and time-wisened hue or must you go all the way?

leave the .410 as is, its rare and in nice shape, enjoy it!
Steve

Nice. Got any pictures of the sides after the re-case? In particular, did you have the dog stamping recut, leave it as is, or polish it off altogether?

I think you have made the right choices here, especially to leave the .410 alone. A very nice "All Star" collection!

I too would leave the 410 as is. Nice guns. Does anyone know, of the various field grade NID configurations, which is the rarest?

I'd guess that the fourth and last configuration, after WW-2 would be the most rare. That one had no cocking indicators and left off the border engraving...Geo

Do you suppose any of those were 410's?

Thanks. I never would have done a thing to the 410. As for the polish job, i suspect it was conservatively performed; hence, the engravings appear to look as they did when purchased and i would not have wanted them diminished visibly. Nothing was re-engraved. i believe they are still very well struck.

Here Norm are pics of the case colors, first the 410 (original) then the re-case color hardened 20 then 12. Keep in mind I used a bright flash which accentuates the colors making them more vivid than they generally appear.

Lastly, here are close ups of setter engravings - tough to catch and needed some comp. accentuating to bring it out (hence the vividness)... The face on the second truly captures my imagination.

I'm still interested if most would have had the 12 and 20 redone or just have left them be as original as possible. Thanks for your comments notwithstanding. Natural-light photography would have been best, i agree.

I suppose it is an individuals decision whether or not to refinish a particular gun or not. I have some al natural and some that have been redone or partially so over the life of the firearm. I collect the double guns that I like, with or without original finish, redone or not and I am happy with them. You have a fine looking trio of "Star" field grade NIDs.

Thanks for sharing the side views. I like what you've done with them.

Who did the recase for you?

For any interested, shoot and restoration info (choke indicated by micrometer):
The 1927 410 is F/XF (patterns R100% and L95% for 25yds w/ Rem Express LongRange 2 1/2" No. 6)

The 1927 20 is IC/F (patterns R59% and L86% at 40yds w/ RST Lite 2 1/2" No.7)

The 1928 12 is M/F (patterns R88% and L94% at 40yds w/ Polywad Vintager 2 1/2" No. 6)

*The case color hardening was via Clark Gunsmithing And Restorations, LLC of 221 East Haddam Colchester Tpke, East Haddam, CT 06423, tel. 860-873-9639.

*The 'other' restoration (strip and clean, all polish, barrel blue, forend latch/safety slide/triggers/trigger guard blue, the stock and forend wood recheckering and refinish, and for the 12 the added original Hawkins 'heart cutouts' pad) was by Pfrommer Gunworks, LLC, 2954 Hopkins Rd., Rocky Mount, VA 24151, tel. 540-484-5555 (Gunter Pfrommer).

I like guns that have origional condition. I don't mind some personality in my old guns but since you asked. I probably would have left the case colour alone but gave the wood some professional loving.

I would like to say that I think that your guns turned out very nice and I too agree not to touch that .410.

PS I may know where there is a 28ga (had short stock though)

Tim

I have had several classic American SxS's restored/refinished, and in one instance, restocked. All have turned out well, and I've been pleased with the results.

Carrying and using a classis SxS shotgun in excellent condition is a very pleasant experience. Whether that condition is 100% original, or not, isn't important to me.

Likewise, I don't hesitate to have chokes opened, if it will make the gun more useful to me.

Jerry Goldstein
St. Louis, MO

Thanks for sharing your feelings. I simply couldn't leave the 'completely' silvery-finished receiver of the 12 alone, at least. At that point it was all the way on that one.

As for chokes - my 12 pattern at 88% and 94% is too tight for the field i fear. Maybe it's a fit for some Ducks in Lake Okeechobee w/ Classic Doubles Hevishot.
Re chokes, I patterned my tight 12 with Polywad Doublewides 2 1/2" No. 8 and it shot R31% L43%. The right had quite big holes. I'll be keeping the chokes original. Thanks for the input.