In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Old Ithaca Double.
buddyb
Member Posts: 5,393 ✭✭✭✭
I have an Ithaca double that I am cleaning up.Its a hammerless gun and seems to be pretty solid.Not sure of how old it is but the serial number is 366xxx.The barrels are marked smokeless powder steel. Is it safe to shoot modern low brass shells in the old gun?
Comments
Short answer - yes. It should be safe with any standard load, Hi or low brass. My un-expert opinion. After serial number 400,000 (1925) the frame was strengthened. I think I remember reading that the proof load standards today are the same as they were in the 1920's and 30's.
The main question is "What kind of condition is the circa 100 year old gun in now?" It's marked for smokeless loads, but it may have seen some black powder loads also without good cleaning. And for sure, it saw it's share of corrosive primers. It's always best with old guns, before firing them, to have them thoroughly inspected by a gunsmith or other expert familiar with the type of gun and it's weaknesses.
The old gun locks up tight and the bores and chambers look like mirrors.I think it will be fine.
With the 366xxx serial number, I am thinking it is a 'Flues'. I had a 20 gauge that one of our fallen members - Tom Cox - from Coffeeville, Mississippi wanted for this daughter and a 410 bore for his granddaughter. Told him didn't have a 410 as such but did have 410 tubes for it. We worked up a deal and we both had C&R-03-FFLs which simplified matters.
Sounds like the one you have is in good condition and will work fine. Around here it would easily go for $800 or more depending on condition as a quail/dove machine.
Best Regards - AQH
Shoot it
In addition to the very sound advice to have it checked by a competent gunsmith, I would also have him use a chamber gauge to check the chamber length. 12 g shells were not always 2 and three quarter- but an unfired 2 3/4 will fit.