doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca sunburst pads...

When did Ithaca start offering sunburst-style pads as factory-installed options?

Thanks

OWD

About 1932.

Thanks.

I guess that means if there's one on a Flues, it ain't original?

Also, does this checkering pattern look right for a Grade 3 Flues:




I'm guessing the wood is refinished, the pad added.


OWD

added poorly too.

Never saw a grade 3 with the 'ribbon.'

Hmmmm. Kind of odd.

Did Ithaca mix things up like that? Did they have a range of patterns they used with a lot of variety?

Or was this a pattern a customer could have requested?

I'm interested in this gun because it looks like it was made with a straight stock. The seller says it weighs around 6lbs, too.

Would factory records note a different checkering pattern or anything like that?

Thanks for the help.

OWD

That checkering pattern certainly shows a Grade 3 style. All the Flues period catalogues I have show the Grade 3 double with a capped pistol grip. Straight-gripped Flues and NID Ithacas are pretty few and far between.

What do you all think of the shape of the sidepanels. Curves look a bit odd and the "drop" from the sidepanel to the stock looks abrupt, too. Then take a look at the uneven curves of the triggerguard. Just doesn't look right to me.

Looking at all the pictures of that gun on GI, it appears to me that gun may well have been restocked at Ithaca in their waning years.

Thanks for the input, guys. I appreciate the insights.

Researcher, I was trying to figure out if the checkering on the forend and buttstock differ.

It looks like the forend checkering has a border around. This seems to be missing on the butt stock.

OWD

The trigger guard has a kink in it. My Fluesies don't.

I wonder if this stock was modified from a PG??

Al

The original Sumburst pads that I've seen and can recall have all sat pretty flat against the wood. The reproductions are a different matter and I've had two of them that start to curl or buckle a couple of months after installation. This looks like one of the reproductions.

The period Ithaca "bridge trestle" pads actually on my NID doubles say "PAT. APPLIED FOR" while the repros I have on hand say "PATENTED".

Researcher-

What years are your NIDs?

Were they installed buy the factory? How's the wood-to-pad fit?

OWD

BTW

Does anyone out there have pics of a dbl Flues with an original straight grip?

Thanks

OWD

The easiest way to tell old Sunburst pads from recent manufacture is the old pads have visible screw holes and the recent ones do not. My gunsmith has not reported any problems with fitting them and the ones he did fit are fine. Photos later, especially if I can find my straight handed Flues.

I presume the two to the right, my 16- and 20-gauge Grade 4E NIDs are factory original. The one on the left was stripped off a Fox-Sterlingworth and installed by Bill Harvey on my Grade 2 28-gauge NID. Looks good, feels good, but is period incorrect because the gun is of 1926-vintage. I did keep the original buttplate and screws.

Here is a side view of the buttstock of the 1941-vintage Grade 4E 16-gauge --



Here is the side view of the November 1933-vintage 20-gauge 4E --

Researcher-

Thanks for the pics and info. The stock on that 20g is sweet. I love the round knob. Are those common on Ithacas?


OWD

I rarely see any round knobs on Ithacas. The round knob on researcher's Ithaca doesn't turn me on like most round knobs do. But Ithaca had a way of doing that. They would almost get there, but not quite.

tim

My 20-gauge 4E is the only NID I've encountered with that style grip. Capped full pistol grips are the NID norm, with a very few straights.

Here is a straight hand Crass gun. I thought I had a Flues but I was thinking this gun.

And here is an NID straight hand stock.

And here is the recent manufactured pad fitted and by its self. You can compare it to Researcher's photos

Very nice guns. Thanks for sharing.

OWD

From my limited experience, it seems the company changed the "pat'd Pending" to "Patented" when they changed the backing from black hard rubber to aluminium circa 1950.

FWIW the Summer 1950 Illustrated Price list is the first thing I have that shows the new Aluminium base pad, but the September 23, 1950, Dealer's Quotations still shows the old black base pad, probably an oversight by someone in the office.

Walt- I found what I think is a NID 12- field grade 30" DT ejector gun- sn is 425xxx and it has the 'snail ears' cocking indicators- mint shape, original stock and forearm and finish, choked no. 2 right and no. 3 left-ejectors are "snappy" too- same "Mom and Pop" gun shop where I bought a LeFever 12 Grade G-they have it described as a Manier model however-$750 OTD--what is the serial number range for the Manier Ithacas? Thanks!!

Minier models fall in the 112000-160000 range...425XXX would be a real early NID and well worth the $750 in the condition you describe with ejectors.......

Did anyone else put such nice wood on similarly priced guns on such a regular basis in that time frame?

My take is that it seems Ithaca had a SOP of using wood a step or two above the rest, per price point for quite a stretch of time?

Mark

Thanks Gun Nut- I re-read the McIntosh book- he mentions a possible barrel lug radius problem on the early NID Ithacas- that
may have caused some of them to open when fired- so I will see if I can test fire it with light AA factory loads and see. This gun doesn't appear to have been reblued or refinished, and is in very good condition- may have been stored away and not shot or used for hunting very often- If I buy it it will be my first Ithaca double- we shall see!

I agree 775, I think that Ithaca definatly used some wood that was a notch or 2 above the compatition a great deal of the time.

Tim

Ithaca used American Black Walnut for their stocks. Other companies used European walnut. Since black walnut was much less expensive and more showy, you see more pattern on Ithacas.

Walt- guess I must have an early series- ITHACA on top in a circle- the I at about 10 o'clcok and the A at about 2:30 with the A at Top Dead Center- the below in smaller caps horizontally GUN CO. The G just below the Large I in ITHACA and the O with the period just past the A in ITHACA- the below it- looks like a punchbowl in serif- then in caps but slightly smaller than the GUN CO. ITHACA N.Y. then a straight horizontal line and in a rounded sub-set below that line PAT> APPL'D. FOT dark red about 4 & 5/8" long, 1 and 9/16" wide and the two counterbored screw locating and mounting holes are aprox. 3 and 3/16" center to center- would this have been on a Flues? RWTF

The Sunburst pad was introduced in 1932, way late for original Flues although I am sure many were fitted later.