Looking at an Ithaca NID. The water table is stamped with the gauge and F (it is a field grade). The number matching forend iron is stamped S F. Anyone know what the S signifies?

Just a "WAG" her, bt Ithaca NID guns are sometimes stamped with a Star- normally on a field grade, could that mean the gun is a STAR grade field grade gun. Ask Walter Snyder, our resident Ithaca man-he will know for sure, if anyone does. RWTF

Courtesy of Researcher
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=154196

I am aware of the field, 1 , 1-S Grades in earlier guns but this is a mid to late 30's post cocking indicators NID. All were modern steel by then.

This is probably another case of no one left alive knows what those letters S or A on NID forearm irons means. S on a No. 2 --



A on a No. 2E --



S on a No. 2 --



S on a Field Grade --



S on a Field Ejector --

I’ve researched this same question as all my NID’s (CI’s & post) have the S on the forend iron. I’ve read all that Walt has written about it and unless some new documents turn up I’ve personally concluded that Researcher’s answer is as good as we’re going to get.

FWIW I've paged through my Lefever Nitro Special files and find A and S randomly on their forearm irons as well and found one with a W. I also see the A or S on Western Arms Long Range forearm irons.

Hadn’t previously thought to look but just did and my NS and LR examples do have an S on the iron.