Ithaca Flues Double Barrel 12 gauge

Hoping someone can chime in with a little more info on this shotgun.

I've found quite a bit of information on the internet but I simply don't know enough about these guns to narrow down the grade, etc. I love the old guns but it's just not my area of expertise.

History of the gun: It was just handed down to me from my father. I know that this gun was purchased "used" circa 1923 by my great grandfather in Kentucky, when my grandfather was about 5 years old. It is the gun that fed the family. I have heard stories that my great grandmother would say, "If you want dinner tonight, you better go shoot something," and it was no joke. He would leave and come back with a couple of birds. He once estimated that it had killed "10,000 ducks." Perhaps an exaggeration, it was a lot. I know that he took great care of the gun (he couldn't afford to replace it) and he passed that care down to my grandfather, father, and then to me.

The serial number dates this as a 1920 Ithaca "Flues" serial number 321XXX. It has 30" barrels marked as full choke. That's all I know. I know there are different grades of these guns. I'm not sure how to tell which one it is. If you have anything to add I'd appreciate the info. If not, hope you like the pics and the story.

Crawdad1 said:

Look at the action flats or barrel flats is there a marking there?

And that is a great story. I wonder just how many old doubles are out there with similar stories with families with just that one gun that they used to killed everything from fur to feather.

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The only markings on the action flats or barrel flats are the serial numbers - all matching of course. "PAT'D" is marked on the action flat on the right side and "112" on the action flat on the left side. That is it.

Not sure whether or not it has been refinished. I do know this, I come from a very long line of OCD perfectionists. I remember looking at it over 35 years ago when my grandfather cared for it in Denver, CO. Everything he owned was perfect, including his fine gun collection of which I now have several pieces. They are all perfect. My father then had it for several years. A few of his guns have been featured in museums and he has had several parts in antique books (his specialty is Plains rifles and Indian guns). My father would go hunting, kill a bunch of pheasants, and come back without so much as a smudge on his boots while everyone else would be filthy. His Winchester Model 12s look brand new though they have seen heavy field use. So I'm not gonna say it hasn't been refinished (it very well may have been) but I am not personally surprised at the condition.

As for the white spacers. The white one on the pistol grip appears plastic. However, the spacer on the buttstock is actually metal.

I will be very cautious with the shells. I will likely bust a couple of clays with it at the range. It could potentially see another bird or two in it's day but I'll have to consider that first.

Thanks very much for the info to all. I've got several pieces in my collection now that I consider to be quite nice but I like the story that goes with this one for sure.

....and off topic for the thread but thought you might appreciate another example of my hand me downs....I know there's some Model 12 fans. They are my family's favorite so I might have one or two.

forindooruseonly said:

That's not a field grade, as eastbank points out. It's in excellent condition as well for as much as he hunted with it.

Couple of things that I'm aware of, since I have an Ithaca flues field grade gun, is that they are prone to cracking frames using heavier modern loads. Also, a number of them were built with different length shells - like 2 and 9/16ths rather than the near standard 2 and 3/4 of today.

Thanks for sharing, that's a beauty and a great story.

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Good info. I'm very conservative with my guns. Honestly never heard of 2 9/16" shells. Can they even be had? This gun is in no way marked. Any way to know for sure?

Crawdad1 said:

That Model 12 is in great shape.

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Thanks. That gun has won many a major trap competitions in the hands of my grandfather. Serial number dates it to 1953. He was winning with it in the late 50s and early 60s. Got a picture of him holding it somewhere from way back when.

Crawdad1 said:

There's a 112 on the action flat? Its a 1 1/2 grade Flues model.

There was the Field Grade then Grade 1 than Grade 1 1/2, then Grade 2 with the Grade 7 as the top Flues model.

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Makes perfect sense now. Thanks!

Crawdad1 said:

You got yourself a beautiful Ithaca, I'm really jealous!!!!!

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Thanks. A safe queen that'll still see a little daylight from time to time.

Good info Jim. Thanks.