Old Ithaca double - pics added - UPDATE

[kjohn]

I have an older Ithaca 12ga double, double triggers, model unknown. "Smokeless Powder Steel" on each barrel, serial numbers match, 283570. Works okay, locks up nice. Barrels cut to 21 1/4". Difficult to open after firing. Any ideas, or off to the gunsmith? Shotgun is in decent condition, barrels bright, no pitting, no dents or bulges.

Ithaca serial number charts show 283570 to likely be either CRASS or NIG, year 1896. Only other serial range that contains my number is Lefever year 1929.

Update: Picked up the old Ithaca this afternoon from Dixon's. He suggested I fire a couple of shots. My goodness! LOUD and kicks like a mule. He told me that it wasn't chambered for 2 3/4", so he bored it out. He cleaned the internal workings, saying that it looked like someone had varnished the small parts! He also fixed a crack in the butt stock. He told me that the guts showed minimal use.

 

[Fox]

I have a "Western Arms" 16ga double, it is an Ithaca but actually made off the Lefever tooling and dated in the mid 30s.

There is a hunting scene on the sides of the receiver of mine, but looks similar to yours.

 

[Potashminer]

That one looks like a nice old girl! If you are not getting protruding (stuck) firing pins to make opening difficult, is my impression that the strikers are cocked as the action is opened - so two little "push rods" inside that frame - I think I would look in there for 100 plus years of gunk - would likely contribute to "hard to open" if there is stuff in there preventing those "rods" from sliding or the springs from compressing. I have never taken one like that apart, so take my suggestion with that grain of salt.

You describe the lock-up as good - but perhaps that cross bar or the hinge surface is galling? - perhaps a dab of grease or drop or two of oil, right on that hinge, might help?

Also, in your pictures - appears to me that the butt stock might not be solidly or evenly seated to the frame - if that is correct, it will likely lead to that wood splitting under recoil - but might be an "odd" thing that I see in the picture, versus what you see with it in hand.

 

[kamlooky]

Pour ol' gal looks drier thannah pawpkorn tewt.
Sprayer down with sum gooder flewid.
Then see'oww she operates.

 

[kjohn]

I have a "Western Arms" 16ga double, it is an Ithaca but actually made off the Lefever tooling and dated in the mid 30s.

There is a hunting scene on the sides of the receiver of mine, but looks similar to yours.[/QUOTE]

It seemed to me that mine didn't fit the "1896" slot. It does have a dog pointing on each side of the receiver. However, it does say "Ithaca Gun Co. Ithaca NY. Hmm.

With a bit more digging, found pics of a Flues. This one fits, probably a 1917 Ithaca Flues serial range puts it in 1917. That's more like it.

 

[kjohn]

Shotgun is now at the gunsmith's. He is familiar with Flues, and will give it the 1 2 3.

 

[kjohn]

Update on the old Ithaca: it was chambered for 2 5/8”, not 2 3/4”, but is now 2 3/4”. Stock crack fixed, internals cleaned properly. Glad I put in a gunsmith’s hands. I was going to sell it, but I think it will be my “coach gun”.