Ithaca SKB - Opinions & Guidance Sought

[Anthony]

Hello Everyone,

I was browsing my favorite firearms emporium earlier today and spotted a very nice used Ithaca SKB 12 gauge shotgun with a 2 3/4" chamber for about $300. At least the salesguy said it was an SKB. The gun was actually rollermarked with another name (can't remember it), but he indicated the "SKB" referred to the importer (it was made in Japan) rather than the model or maker. The general look of the gun seemed consistent with the photos of the SKB I have seen. The piece had a light colored wood with nice checkering on it with some scrollwork on the receiver.

Is this the same Ithaca SKB shotgun Jeff Cooper called the finest autoloading combat shotgun at some point in the past?

Massad Ayoob reinterated this observation in "Stressfire II: The Combat Shotgun" in the mid-1990s suggesting it might be the finest. Of course with the likes of the Benelli Super 90 and Remington 11-87 being in existence this would be some competition to see who would win!

Did the SKB come in different models?

Are some better or superior to other generations of other SKBs?

Is it recoil or gas operated?

Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Jim Watson]

Ithaca - SKB 300 is recoil operated, 900 is gas operated.
That is about all I know.
I'd check for availability of parts if I was going to shoot one a lot and accessories if I wanted to set it up as a riot gun.