I think I have something interesting, and perhaps pretty rare to talk about. I live in the Iowa City, Iowa area and there is a Scheels Sporting Goods chain store here. They have a significant gun dept. Anyway, they have a pair of Ithaca Model 72 lever action .22 rifles in the original boxes. I think this gun model came out in 1972 and that is where it got the model name. Anyway, the guns appear to be pristine and they are consecutive serial numbers and perhaps are almost the first two made in 1973. About that last part I am only guessing but the two serial numbers are 73000002 and 73000003. The asking price is $1200 for the two. I can't help thinking the first two digits of the serial numbers indicate year of manufacture. Does anyone know anything about this??
Ithaca consecutive serial numbers
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JohnBT
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Are they LR or WMR? After doing a little poking around on the web looking for serial numbers, I've found LR guns with serial numbers starting with 72 and WMR guns with 73. I'm starting to think it's caliber related. There are quite a few listed on this site...
www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ithaca-model-72-22-cal-lever-rifle-serial-72045035
In any case, that's a lot of money for 2 rifles that don't seem to have a lot of demand, but what do I know. I did learn that they were made in Germany and the design is very close to the current crop of Henry rimfires.
John
www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ithaca-model-72-22-cal-lever-rifle-serial-72045035
In any case, that's a lot of money for 2 rifles that don't seem to have a lot of demand, but what do I know. I did learn that they were made in Germany and the design is very close to the current crop of Henry rimfires.
John
They are .22LR and as far as cost
it does seem like a lot until you look at the fact that Henry Golden Boys are around $425 per now so a pair would be $850. These Ithacas may not be much in demand but the 72 is a good gun as far as I know and I saw a nice used one in a quality private gun shop two years ago for $325. So, if these are unfired guns and in original boxes with consecutive serial numbers adding about $175 to the price of each one over the cost of a Henry does not sound like much. If you care to compare them to a brand new Model 39A ($525) I think the price seems reasonable. Obviously there is collector value here. I think if I could buy one for $600 I would do that before I would buy a brand new 39A for $525. But, of course, the price of something being reasonable or unreasonable is in the eye of the beholder. Thanks for your opinion.
it does seem like a lot until you look at the fact that Henry Golden Boys are around $425 per now so a pair would be $850. These Ithacas may not be much in demand but the 72 is a good gun as far as I know and I saw a nice used one in a quality private gun shop two years ago for $325. So, if these are unfired guns and in original boxes with consecutive serial numbers adding about $175 to the price of each one over the cost of a Henry does not sound like much. If you care to compare them to a brand new Model 39A ($525) I think the price seems reasonable. Obviously there is collector value here. I think if I could buy one for $600 I would do that before I would buy a brand new 39A for $525. But, of course, the price of something being reasonable or unreasonable is in the eye of the beholder. Thanks for your opinion.
JohnBT
Member
You might be right, I have just never seen any interest in that model. Maybe I missed it, although I did spend some time last night googling for Ithacas, Model 72s and Ithaca collectors, etc. There just doesn't seem to be much activity.
Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying don't buy them if you like them. Not being a gun collector, I'm always interested in learning and sharing info about guns and marketplace.
Of course, I am probably biased. By the time they started making them in 1972 I'd already had a Marlin Mountie for a decade.
John
Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying don't buy them if you like them. Not being a gun collector, I'm always interested in learning and sharing info about guns and marketplace.
Of course, I am probably biased. By the time they started making them in 1972 I'd already had a Marlin Mountie for a decade.
John
I think they are a pretty darn good gun
but for some reason maybe there is not much interest. Is there not much interest because guns like the Marlins and Winchesters outshine them and they were not made very long so they are rather obscure? That is my thinking. However, by the way, I am not interested in having one. It is just that this set appears to be pretty darn rare in my opinion. And....I thought this was an interesting set of guns to tell others about.
but for some reason maybe there is not much interest. Is there not much interest because guns like the Marlins and Winchesters outshine them and they were not made very long so they are rather obscure? That is my thinking. However, by the way, I am not interested in having one. It is just that this set appears to be pretty darn rare in my opinion. And....I thought this was an interesting set of guns to tell others about.
JohnBT
Member
Heck, I was trying to talk you into buying them. 
There could be an Ithaca rifle collectors association out there somewhere.
Or there might be a man who had one as a kid and would love to have those two new ones for his two young sons. Finding him is the problem. That, and hoping he has enough money to make the seller a profit.
I think it's mostly that they weren't made for very long, most folks have never seen one, and that Ithaca doesn't come to mind first thing when lever guns are mentioned.
John
There could be an Ithaca rifle collectors association out there somewhere.Or there might be a man who had one as a kid and would love to have those two new ones for his two young sons. Finding him is the problem. That, and hoping he has enough money to make the seller a profit.
I think it's mostly that they weren't made for very long, most folks have never seen one, and that Ithaca doesn't come to mind first thing when lever guns are mentioned.
John
John, I think you are right
on that. I believe the Ithaca 72 was a quality firearm but just does not have the reputation of the Winchester 9422 or Marlin Model 39 now we have the Henry Line of Lever .22s.........I think that pair will sit a while before someone buys them.
on that. I believe the Ithaca 72 was a quality firearm but just does not have the reputation of the Winchester 9422 or Marlin Model 39 now we have the Henry Line of Lever .22s.........I think that pair will sit a while before someone buys them.
krs
Member
I believe that those were made by the "Erma" company in Germany, maker of several firearms in an American old west style and are probably not worth more than $300. each to most folks, if that much.
However, a seller in Georgia would take exception to my valuation, he having placed a price of $510. on one of the rifles in what he thinks is unfired condition: http://www.gunsamerica.com/92814939...ACTION_TUBE_FED_MINT_COND_PROBABLY_UNFIRE.htm
However, a seller in Georgia would take exception to my valuation, he having placed a price of $510. on one of the rifles in what he thinks is unfired condition: http://www.gunsamerica.com/92814939...ACTION_TUBE_FED_MINT_COND_PROBABLY_UNFIRE.htm
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