I have a Western Arms Long Range 16, the serial number is 8975 except on the forend iron which is S 8975.

The 8975 puts it at 1930 but what, if anything, does the S signify?


thanks,

Rob

This posting from a few years ago may help.


“Hey Walt; What is an "S" grade Ithaca Double? [Re: Walter C. Snyder]
Researcher Offline
Sidelock
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Registered: 01/01/02
Posts: 5281
Loc: WA/AK
Originally, the Ithaca No. 1 had some engraving and twist barrels. Then Ithaca introduced a lower-priced twist barrel gun, the No. 1P for plain. It just had a roll-stamped logo in the sides of the frame. After a couple of years what was the No. 1P became the No. 1 and the engraved No. 1 was gone. Ithaca must have seen a demand for a lower priced Damascus barrel gun because they introduced a No. 1 1/2 with the roll-stamped frame and Damascus barrels. Fairly soon it got a bit of zig-zag border engraving in addition to the roll-stamped logo. With the introduction of steel barrels, Ithaca brought out a No. 1 Special with Cockerill Steel barrels. These were the guns stamped with an S for the grade stamp. Finally Ithaca added an even lower-priced Field Grade gun. It had Smokeless Powder Steel barrels and a half-pistol grip, while the No. 1 Special had the Cockerill Steel barrels and a capped pistol grip. Also the Field Grade was only offered down to 20-gauge, while the No. 1 Special could be had in 28-gauge after 1912. In early 1915 a Field Grade had a net selling price of $19.50 and a No. 1 Special was $22.50. In mid-1915 Ithaca introduced their bolder new engraving patterns and the No. 1 1/2 got some bold floral engraving. As WW-I was heating up the supply of composite iron and steel barrel tubes from Europe was drying up and the No. 1 and the No. 1 1/2 got steel barrels. During 1919 Ithaca moved to simplify things. The No. 1 Special went away, and the Field Grade got a capped pistol grip. The No. 1 and the No. 1 1/2 were combined as the new No. 1 with the bold floral engraving and steel barrels. Through this period we still find quite a few guns that appear as what the current catalogues called Field Grades but stamped with the S for grade, probably using up receivers originally intended for No. 1 Specials? Then there are Ithaca guns stamped with an S in different locations and I don't think anyone really knows what those Ss mean. Finally beginning in the mid-1930s, Skeet Guns were stamped with an S in the choke designation spot on the fronts of the barrel flats.“

In reviewing a lot of pics in my files I often see an S or an A stamped on the forearm irons of Ithaca/Lefever/Western guns. Here is a Nitro Special with an A stamped over an S --



Don't know what the R means either.

Thanks Researcher, maybe Walt will chime in.

Never noticed it before you pointed it out:



Same thing. Front wood has an S In front of the serial number.

1937 Nitro Special 16 gauge.

Best,
Ted

+1

My 1924 16ga Nitro Special has the S as does my 1927 16 ga NID and my 1937 16ga Long Range.

Hhmmm

Ted, I see it on the iron but does the wood also have it?

I have 3 Ithaca made guns from the era, the Western Arms, a Nitro Special and a late NID, all have the S before the s/n on the iron, the forend wood only has the number.

The NID does have an F after the number on both the wood and iron, Field Grade.

The forend wood on my copy only has the last four digits of the serial number. The iron has the full number and the S.

Best,
Ted