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15
LOT 1516
Factory
Engraved and Gold
Inlaid Ithaca Classic Doubles
20 Gauge Superlative Grade Double Barrel Shotgun
with Case - Serial no. 470222, 20
gauge, 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue/
casehardened/gold finish, walnut stock.
Only some 500 total of these guns in all grades were built. Assembled and finished in the United States using Italian made parts by a litany of the most skilled men in their crafts, including stock makers Ron Buck and Nick
Tooth, barrel specialist Steve Lentz, and Ferlach trained manufacturing director Gunter Pfrommer. The engraving was carried out on the standard grade guns by the famous father-son engraving duo John and John Adams as well as John Pease, with the high grade guns, such as this one, performed by Creative Art Studios of Brescia, Italy. Blued steel barrels with a single white bead sight on the matted concave solid rib which is marked with a gold
“1”, 2 inch flourishes of scroll at either breech, and 2 3/4 inch chambers with automatic ejectors. The casehardened
boxlock action displays beautifully cut floral scroll engraving over a matted background with flourishes of gold inlaid flowers
scattered throughout, gold inlaid factory markings on the underside, and three highly detailed gold inlaid game scenes. The scenes depict a pheasant in flight over
a field on the left side, a grouse in flight over some pines on the underside, and a mallard taking flight over a pond on the right side. The scroll engraving continues
onto the toplever, trigger guard, and both tangs, the lower of which shows the hand cut gold inlaid serial number. The gun features double gold plated triggers and
a tang mounted automatic safety with gold inlaid script “S” safety marking. Exceptional, highly figured, fancy panel checkered semi-beavertail forend with matching
engraved fittings and ebony tip inlay along with the straight grip stock with checkered flats and a checkered factory buttplate. This gun is consecutively serial
numbered and numbered in series 1, 2, and 3 with the following two lots. This trio exhibits some of the finest gunmaking ever carried out on this side of the Atlantic
and was used for advertisements to show the top notch quality offered by Ithaca Classic Doubles. Includes an oak
and leather takedown case with a canvas cover, nickel snap caps, nickel oiler, a Ithaca Classic Doubles pamphlet,
and a copy of the March/April issue of “Shooting Sportsman” in which there are two advertisements and an article
featuring Ithaca Classic Doubles. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech
.631/.635 inches; choke constriction .049/.052 inches; minimum wall thickness .034/.030 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at
comb; 2 3/16 inch drop at heel; 14 13/16 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs. 10 oz.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 99% original blue, casehardened, and gold finishes with minor handling
marks and sharp checkering on the stock and forend. The case is excellent. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000 4