doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca NID Grade...?

How do I tell the grade of an Ithaca NID with indicators but no number on the frame to tell a grade? I saw one on GunBroker called a "Star" Grade but I thought all grades were numbers. Mine looks identical to the "Star" grade. Is that actually what it's called?

It is a Field grade, Star variation.

Here is one close
It is my NID 10 gauge



Bakercollector, do we have the same types of guns???

Close? I'd say identical not counting the gauge. Does the start variation add any value to it? What would a field grade without the stars be worth compared to mine?

I think people like the Star version of the NID field gun, but I doubt it adds any value in comparison to other versions. I like the later ones without the 'snail ears'...Geo

The other end of the bore spectrum from Skeettx's gun is my little .410 "star" grade made in 1929.

I have a 12 gauge with the stars, it's just a field grade with a little extra decoration to help improve sales at the time.
I also have a 10 magnum without the stars.
I dont know if the stars add any value.
They are however great guns with or without.

I have a 16 ga NID, manufactured after the war (the BIG one), which has actually no marking on it whatsoever, except the serial number. Probably made up from surplus parts from before the war.

There are four major variations of NID Field Grades, and very likely other minor variations. As the gun was originally introduced, it just had the roll-stamped logo on the sides of the frame --



From the serial numbers, it appears the workers at the factory began adding the "stars" to the Field Grade in mid-1927, but they don't appear in the catalogues until the 1929 edition --



About 1935, Ithaca dropped the cocking indicators, the roll-stamped logo and the "stars" and introduced the New Ithaca Field Grade with border engraving and the nicely matted receiver top --



The few Field Grade doubles manufactured/assembled after WW-II, didn't even get the border engraving --



As for the gun in question, there should be the gauge and a letter F, for Field Grade, stamped near the front of the left watertable. Like this --

The left watertable is marked "F 16" The right watertable has the serial number. The left barrel flats has "NID 35 5" The right barrel flats has the serial number. No engraving on the breach end of the barrels, nor on the side of the frame. The bottom of each barrel does have "Best Fluid Steel" stamped near the lump.