I made an impulse buy at a recent gun show. I bought a vintage Ithaca Gun Company double barrel (side-by-side) 12 gauge shotgun with matching numbers (see attached photos).
The detail of the engraving is not the best (grade 1 ½), it was refinished, the barrel is a long 30”, and the length of pullis too short for me even with its recoil pad. However, I fell in love with this piece of New York manufacturing history, and I felt the $225.00 price tag was fair.
The vendor told me it was made “sometime around the war”. I assumed he meant World War II. However, when I contacted the “new” Ithaca Gun Company (the assets were purchased in 2005), I learned that the shotgun was manufactured in 1915.
I don’t plan on shooting it (at least not with today’s high pressure loads).
The below link is a good article detailing what you should look for when purchasing a used side-by-side shotgun. In summary, you should look for the following:
- Are there cracks or chips in the wood?
- Is there evidence of repair to the wood?
- Is the level of the wood lower than that of the metal? (proud metal)
- Is the checkering clean and in good shape?
- Has the checkering been finished over?
- Does the guns metal appear refinished?
- What is the length of pull to the front trigger?
- Is the forearm loose?
- What is the % of case color?
- Is the engraving sharp?
- What is the % of bluing?
- Is the lettering on the blued surfaces sharp?
- Are the screws damaged?
- Is the lever right of center?
- Is there movement between the barrel and receiver with the gun closed and the forearm removed?
- Is there sideways movement between the barrel and receiver with the gun open?
- Does the gun operate properly?
- Are the trigger pulls light and crisp?
- Do numbers match?
- What is the length of the barrels?
- What are the chokes?
- Is there any pitting in the barrels?
- Are there any dents or bulges?
- Is there any metal pitting externally?
- Has the gun been personalized with numbers, initials, etc.
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