SKB define? Ithica!?!
- Thread starter Dutch Ppoacher
- Start date
SKB is a fairly large Japanese firearms manufacturer. During the 70's and 80's, Ithaca imported many models of SKB shotguns and sold them as their own...semi-autos, pumps, singles, doubles in both hunting and target grades. All are high quality guns but the lack of demand for them keeps the prices down...which is good for the savvy buyer!
Low demand has also put SKB Japan out of business .how ever SKB USA has bought up all remaining inventory and parts . so some models and parts are still available south of the border .
ninepointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
SKB made some fine guns especially their doubles. Ithaca had a good thing going for a while selling SKB shotguns and at the time they also sold Tikka rifles from Finland. I think the shotguns were models 100,200E and 280 in side by side doubles and model 500 in over and under doubles. Also XL 300 and XL900 semi automatic shotguns from SKB. The Tikka rifles were LSA 55 (short action) and LSA 65 (long action). I don't know if they sold any other makers guns at the time.
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
Define Ithica? Never heard of them and they never made a gun. Define Ithaca--all of the above.
Yes Ithaca did make firearms of their own.The company is still in business.They produce the Model 1911 pistol and the Model 37 pump shotgun that I know of at the present time.In the past they produced their own line of SXS shotguns,the Model 66 single shot shotgun and the Model 49 .22 rifle in a lever single shot and repeater version.At one time they also imported from West Germany the Model 72 .22 lever action repeater.
Yes, I should have said "was" a fairly large company. They closed their doors in early 2010 after being in operation for over 150 years (154 or 155 years I believe.) It was a sad day in the firearms industry! Their XL 300 and higher grade XL 900 shotguns were, and still are, some of the most under rated semi-autos on the market. A far superior shotgun than anything coming out of Turkey today. Oh well, all good things must come to an end at some point!
I don't think SKB was made and assembled in dunnville, on. There is a fellow there I believe Ron sharp who was Ithaca's Canadian importer of these guns. He was or is a smith etc.
Because it says in your picture Ithaca co, dunnville, ON and right below says MADE IN JAPAN!
Because it says in your picture Ithaca co, dunnville, ON and right below says MADE IN JAPAN!
ninepointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
Ron was not an importer, he was plant manager at Ithaca's Dunnville assembly plant until it closed its doors in Nov, 1978. He now services and sells parts for Ithacas and SKBs.
Whether the Dunnville stamped SKB's (1966-69) had any of their assembly done in the Dunnville plant is a good question, because the 1970-78 guns are not marked as such.
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What most folks don't understand about SKB guns is that they were largely made by hand. I just sold/traded the 400E skeet pictured below -- very rare in that only 250 were made and only 6 were made in skeet with grade III/IV wood. The only other one I've seem came up on Guns America last July and it hours for $3300.00
ninepointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
Chapter 3 in the link below is an interesting read.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=zEV...onepage&q=skb shotgun u.s. operations&f=false
http://books.google.ca/books?id=zEV...onepage&q=skb shotgun u.s. operations&f=false
FWIW.... The sxs had a little issue with inletting on the butt.
Little if any contact to wood on what should have been recoil bearing surfaces other than on the scalloped part of the frame.
Easy fix with glass bedding, but did create some splits at the scallop points.
Little if any contact to wood on what should have been recoil bearing surfaces other than on the scalloped part of the frame.
Easy fix with glass bedding, but did create some splits at the scallop points.
Some confusion rests with the auto shotguns. I have one that is an XL 300. The other one was recoil operated and wouldn't work reliably with "gopher loads". The XL 300 that I use now is gas operated and works every time with light loads.
Both are very nice shotguns.
** Or am I full of baloney??
** Edited to make sense now - I hope!
Both are very nice shotguns.
** Or am I full of baloney??
** Edited to make sense now - I hope!
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- Location
- West Central Alberta
I still use my 300XL that I bought way back in the 70's and you are correct.High brass load shoot well,low brass loads not so well.
The recoil operated gun is a model 300 (high grade is 900) and the gas operated version is the model XL 300 (high grade is XL 900). The gas guns were available in a magnum version that had a selector switch on the barrel lug for heavy and light loads. My standard XL 300 will shoot 1oz target loads without any issues but my XL 900 needs 1 1/8oz heavy loads to cycle properly. The recoil operated 300 & 900 seem to work fine with the 1oz. light loads...although I've never owned either recoil operated model long enough to run more than 100rds thru each one.
Thanks for clearing that up. I don't have the recoil operated one any more and I couldn't recall the exact model designation.
I use a Winchester 50 most of the time now for gopher defence. It is a heavy old brute, but has a distinct "bark" to it. Occasionally I use a Remington Sportsman 58 or a Beretta AM-301.
I use a Winchester 50 most of the time now for gopher defence. It is a heavy old brute, but has a distinct "bark" to it. Occasionally I use a Remington Sportsman 58 or a Beretta AM-301.
