New to forum.Just read the colonel's upland posts and thought I'd share trip .Went to Okla.last Nov to Highbrass Hunting.Took my 1930's Jamart 12ga dbl and 1926 NID 16ga.I'd just re-blued bbls and tung-oiled the stock of both.I think they were a little skeptical at first but that changed the 1st day.Missed 1st shot on a quail but the full bbl dropped him at 60yds.Guide(and I)was floored.The 16 NID performed flawlessly.They couldn't believe 85 y/o dbls could shoot so well.I told them they were made back when the making was good.The NID is an Ithaca-whadya expect?Over the past 50 years of fooling with shotguns,I've come to appreciate the Ithacas.When I heard several years ago the fellow in Ohio was re-making Ithacas I was soooo happy.I shoot skeet every chance i get with a bunch of fellows who use sub-gauges and am saving for a Model 37 28ga.THEN,they bring out the Phoenix!I am lost.And probably will be broke.Only thing left in the world is if they bring out a new sxs.I will forsake all others.Can you imagine a new,American-made Ithaca sxs?An upland Hunter's dream!

I'm not surprised, swampus, Their lockup is one of the stoutest ever made. Just think about all the old ones still around in working order. many have new stocks and forends, have all the blue and case coloring rubbed off, but they still lock tightly.

A good guideline to use is if you want to know how well a gun is made, just look at all the old ones still around. Those old guns were shot to death and either they survived or broke down outright.

SWAMPUS wrote:Can you imagine a new,American-made Ithaca sxs?An upland Hunter's dream!

I keep hoping for a Ithaca to introduce a nice light weight 28 gauge SXS in the 5 to 5 1/2 pound weight range.As you said ,"An upland hunters dream. ":)

Was just thinking that if Ithaca did introduce a lighteight 28 gauge SXS they could use swampus's ,"An upland hunter's dream" in their advertisements for the shotgun.

Why thankyou,28ga.Even tho the 28 is near&dear,Ithink the 1st should be a 20ga.Need the initial sales to get them in shooters hands.With an Ithaca,that's all thats needed.Once they exp the fit,finish and how it flows in the mount and swing,they'll be convinced.All the 28 folks will then start screaming for one in 28 and Ithaca will do like they do for the mod 37.Just realized-FIT,FINISH,FLOW.Ithaca oughta hire me!

SWAMPUS wrote:Why thankyou,28ga.Even tho the 28 is near&dear,Ithink the 1st should be a 20ga.Need the initial sales to get them in shooters hands.With an Ithaca,that's all thats needed.Once they exp the fit,finish and how it flows in the mount and swing,they'll be convinced.All the 28 folks will then start screaming for one in 28 and Ithaca will do like they do for the mod 37.Just realized-FIT,FINISH,FLOW.Ithaca oughta hire me!

Could not agree more. Even if they could offer it in a field grade initially with upper grades by special order. Seems that an American made double would easily gain footing, I know Id buy one.

Ravengunsmith-I'm withya.I prefer old guns.For the last 20 years,everywhere I go ,I stop at pawnshops,local gunshops,country stores,anywhere there's a gun sign.I've gotten some great deals.My 16ga NID-$375.20ga Flues-$300.If you know what to look for,you can get an excellant shotgun-just as good or better than a modern one-for a very affordable price!Also,don't go for all this patina crap!Cold blueing works great and I have found some beautiful wiood under many years of worn in dirt and oil.BTW,I'm negotiating for a 90% Lefever 16ga.Got him down to $700 so far.

SWAMPUS wrote:Ravengunsmith-I'm withya.I prefer old guns.For the last 20 years,everywhere I go ,I stop at pawnshops,local gunshops,country stores,anywhere there's a gun sign.I've gotten some great deals.My 16ga NID-$375.20ga Flues-$300.If you know what to look for,you can get an excellant shotgun-just as good or better than a modern one-for a very affordable price!Also,don't go for all this patina crap!Cold blueing works great and I have found some beautiful wiood under many years of worn in dirt and oil.BTW,I'm negotiating for a 90% Lefever 16ga.Got him down to $700 so far.

it is amazing the good deals you can get on an older gun. They might not be terribly collectible because there are so many of them still out there but they sure can still shoot, they just don't break.

Great story and thanks for sharing it! I would love to go somewhere and wild pheasant hunt someday with inner of my old Ithacas. I'd also live to run up on an old NID. I've never seen one in the flesh. I'm worth you on the older guns too. You can sure get some great deals on guns made much better than what you can buy new.