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Forums10
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 124
Junior Member
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OP
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 124 |
Anybody know what year they switched the length of the shell from 2 9/16" to 2 3/4" ? I have a Ithica I picked up that was made in 1922 but it doesn't say what length shells it takes. Thank you. Jeff
Jeff Hren
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,205
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,205 |
Different companys did it at different times, but your 1922 gun will most likely be 2 9/16.
Ole Cowboy
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,735 Likes: 53
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,735 Likes: 53 |
L.C. Smith changed around 1936
David
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,735 Likes: 53
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,735 Likes: 53 |
L.C. Smith changed the 20 ga. from 2 1/2" to 2 3/4" in 1936, my L.C.Smith 16 ga. circa 1939 has 2 9/16" chambers. Like Don said they were done at different times, and I agree with him as to your chamber length.
David
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,893 Likes: 110
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,893 Likes: 110 |
ITHACA CHAMBERS -- The last Flues period catalogue (1925) states -- "Unless otherwise ordered Ithaca 28 Gauge and 20 Gauge guns are chambered for the standard 2 1/2 inch shell, 16 Gauge and 12 Gauge for the standard 2 3/4 inch shell and 10 Gauge for the standard 2 7/8 inch shell. Longer chambers are furnished if ordered on new guns without extra charge, but it should be remembered that shells of standard length do not give quite as good results in chambers which are longer than the shells and it should be remembered that extra long shells are more expensive and it is much harder to find a dealer who carries extra long shells in stock." I find that 2 3/4 inch pretty strange in the 16-gauge, because 2 9/16 was the standard 16-gauge shell until WW-II!?! None of my earlier Flues period catalogues mention chamber lengths.
Beginning with the first NID catalogue in 1926 they state -- "Unless otherwise ordered Ithaca .410 Cal. and 20 Gauge guns are chambered for the standard 2 1/2 inch shell, 16 Gauge for 2 9/16 inch, 12 Gauge for 2 3/4 inch and 10 Gauge for the standard 2 7/8 inch shell." The 28 gauge doesn't appear in NID period catalogues until 1932 though they did make some. Beginning with the 1927 catalogue the sentence is changed to -- "Unless otherwise ordered Ithaca .410 Cal. guns are chambered for the standard 2 1/2 inch shell, 16 Gauge for 2 9/16 inch, 20 and 12 Gauge for 2 3/4 inch and 10 Gauge for the standard 2 7/8 inch shell." Ithaca catalogues for 1926, 1927, 1927-1928, 1928, 1928-1929, 1929, 1930, 1931-1932, 1932, No. 50F, and No. 51S, all list 16-gauge as 2 9/16-inch chambers. Beginning with the 1932 catalogue the 28-gauge with 2 7/8 inch chamber is added to the list and it also introduces the 3 1/2 inch Magnum Ten Gauge. By Ithaca catalogue No. 51F the 16-gauge is finally listed with 2 3/4-inch chambers and the 410-bore with 3-inch chambers. I believe the catalogues No. 51 equate to 1934.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,379 Likes: 105
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,379 Likes: 105 |
I think Researcher once listed early 30's for the Ithaca switch to 2 3/4" 16. Any Flues 16's with 2 3/4", I'd be suspicious of punched chambers. Hunter was about the last company to make the jump. I just sold a 1938 Fulton, and it was still 2 9/16".
Researcher, we posted simultaneously. Glad to see my memory still works fairly well!
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 124
Junior Member
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OP
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 124 |
Thanks guy's I shot a couple light loads through it in 2 3/4" & it didn't look like they opened all the way, so I haven't fired it since. Anybody know where I can get 2 9/16" shells? I got a steal on the gun, now I know why. Thank you. Jeff
Jeff Hren
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 124
Junior Member
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OP
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 124 |
Hey can these barrels be machined out to 2 3/4" or is that not a good idea. The Gun is a Light weight & the barrels are fluid steel, not Dumascus. It is in Good shape. I am not sure what this will do to the value of the gun, just curios. Thanks. Jeff
Jeff Hren
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 288
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 288 |
First,I don't think that the difference in length is unsafe so the only thing that you have to worry about is how well the gun shoots.That's easy to determine. Pattern the gun.If the gun shoots well,just keep on shooting. If it does not,consider opening the chamber to2 3/4".I doubt
that you will have to.
Best regards to All
Gene
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