New to me Ithaca!

[Stan Hoover]

That is a heck of a gun Dave, wonder where it is now.

Do you recall the hammer price?

I don’t remember seeing that one, may have been before I attended Hausmanns.

Thanks for the kind words and all the interesting Ithaca facts guys,

Stan Hoover

[Stan Hillis]

That's a beauty, Stan. Nice going.

You said "I don’t quite understand why you would order a Magnum with 2 3/4” chambers, but I guess the original owner had a reason. Either there’s a number 2 3/4” Magnum 12’s out there or I’m just a magnet. Per Walt’s book, there was 87 Ithaca 12 gauge Magnums produced, I’ve encountered 5 12 gauge Magnums, 2 that were 2 3/4”, and the rest were 3”."

I probably wouldn't have ordered one that way, either. Mostly because you can always use 2 3/4" heavies in a 3" chambered gun with no issues. I do that all the time with my 3" chambered Fox HE. I can get all the bismuth, and powder, I need in a 2 3/4" hull. Perhaps the answer lies with the new buyer wanting a heavier framed gun for heavy loads. I like a heavier gun for heavy loads myself. When carrying a gun all day doesn't play into the picture I will always go for a bit more weight. The magnum is certainly a heavier and stronger gun that anything (Ithaca) before it, as it was designed for Olin's brand new 2 oz. 10 ga. magnum load. If I'm extrapolating anywhere near right your gun should tip the scales right at 9 pounds, right? Walt's book says that the Magnum 10 weighed 10 1/2 pounds and that the 12 was 1 1/2 pounds lighter.

[Jeff S]

Stan, that’s a beautiful gun. It will look good in the South Dakota corn fields.

[Researcher]

I found this link to the No. 4E that Jay had. Includes a bunch of pics --

https://www.gunsamerica.com//950642889/ ... N.htm?wl=1

The $1000 Grade sold for $69000 in the Fall 2013 Julia's Auction --

https://www.morphyauctions.com/jamesdju ... num-49726/

So I guess it was at The Vintage Cup at Addieville in 2013 where I handled it! Walter Snyder's article on the $1000 Grade Magnum-12 is in the Winter 2018 The Double Gun Journal, Volume Twenty-Nine, Issue 4, pages 131 to 135.

[Stan Hoover]

Stan,
I really need to buy a small scales to weigh a gun, it is usually not something I worry about real often. I’ll post the weight when I get a scales, maybe later this week. The original owner maybe didn’t see a need for 3” shells but wanted the heavier action. Would be fun to know their thoughts and reasons.

Jeff,
hopefully take it for a spin on that great duck water, pintail, teal, and gadwall. That would be great fun.

Dave,
Thanks for all that info, I went back and found that article, Walt mentions in that article the same fellow that ordered the $1,000 grade Magnum, also ordered a grade 7 10 gauge magnum, according to his relatives

[Researcher]

Stan, one thing I can't tell from your pictures of your great new shotgun, is does it have a vent-rib?

[Stan Hoover]

This one does have a vent rib, only option missing is a Monte Carlo buttstock.

Thanks for all your knowledge, let me know if you want any info on any other Ithaca Magnums,

Stan Hoover

[loggy]

David,
You never cease to amaze me.....
John

[Jrin3]

Hi just trying to find out some information on a gun my father left to me when he passed. It is in pretty good condition from my observation. From everything I can find on the internet and books it is a 28 gauge grade 2E Ithaca with a single selective trigger and English grip. I’ve found several variations online that have pistol grip with the single trigger or English grip with the double trigger but not this configuration. If anyone could shed some light on this it would be very much appreciated.

[Stan Hoover]

Hello Jrin,
That 28 gauge Ithaca sounds interesting, a grade 2 28 gauge Ithaca is a very desirable gun to have.

As for the configuration of the English grip versus the pistol grip and the Single trigger versus double trigger, there was no relation between the two. It was all about what the customer wanted.

That being said, English grip stocks are more rare and more desirable to most collectors/shooters. Most shooters prefer the reliability of the double trigger over the single trigger.

I would love to see pictures of your Ithaca, it sounds like your father left you with a great small bore!!

If you need help posting pictures, I can give you my email address?

Thanks,
Stan

[Stan Hoover]

Has anyone heard from this gentleman about this 28 gauge???? I would have enjoyed seeing some pictures.

Or did someone buy it on the sneak

[Jrin3]

Sorry just got busy with life. Here are a few pictures I was able to get to upload

[Researcher]

When Ithaca Gun Co. introduced the NID in 1926, they dropped the 28-gauge from their catalog offerings and added the .410-bore. Specs from the first NID catalog --

1926 Ithaca Gun Co. catalog Specifications.jpg (79.88 KiB) Viewed 3216 times

Walter Snyder recently sent me a scan of this 1927 Ithaca letter discussing the 28-gauge.

While the 28-gauge wasn't cataloged they did make some. My No. 2 28-gauge shipped 03/29/27 --

431532 Ithaca NID Grade 2 28-Gauge Right.jpg (54.25 KiB) Viewed 3216 times

In 1931, Western Cartridge Co. added the 28-gauge to their progressive burning smokeless powder, high velocity, Super-X line with a load of 3/4-ounce of shot in the 2 7/8-inch case.

Prior to that our North American ammunition companies only offered the 28-gauge in a 2 1/2-inch shell with 1 3/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder (or 14-grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or ballistite) pushing 5/8-ounce of shot or a 2 7/8-inch shell with 2 drams of bulk smokeless powder (or 16-grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or ballistite) pushing the same 5/8-ounce of shot.

By the first 1932 Ithaca Gun Co. catalog they were again offering the 28-gauge --

Ithaca ran this magazine ad in April 1932 --

Ithaca redesigned the NID for 1935, eliminating the cocking indicators, improving the forearm fastening, and introducing a much nicer shaped beavertail forearm.

According to a count Ithaca employee Keith Houghtling did back in the 1950s or 60s, the count of 28-gauges was --

295 Field Grade
42 No. 1
58 No. 2
5 No. 3
10 No. 4
3 No. 5
2 No. 7

[Stan Hoover]

Thanks for posting pictures of your 28 gauge Ithaca, very nice Grade 2.

Please enjoy that one, they are much fun!