Any other Crass shooters?

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.270 WIN
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Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:15 pm
Just wondering if there are any other shooters out there who are using a Crass model?

I actually have a "Fletcher Special" hardware gun, but it is a Crass in all but the stamping.

Been shooting it all summer, and I love it! :D
A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...
PostPosted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:39 pm
Welcome to the Ithaca Owners Forum BPskeeter !!

Sorry, but I have no experience with that model...do you have any pictures of it !?

.270 WIN
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:15 pm
Haven't taken any pictures of it yet. Been too busy working up some good loads and shooting it! :D
Maybe after I get back from Friendship, I'll get the chance.

Do plan on re-stocking it over the winter.
A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...

.270 WIN
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:54 pm
I'll see if I can get this loaded.
Attachments
Fletcher Special.JPG
Fletcher Special.JPG (162.52 KiB) Viewed 28995 times
A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:56 pm
There ya go...she's a beauty !

Have you dated it !?

What's wrong with the stock...?

.270 WIN
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:14 pm
If the serial numbers for the Fletcher match up with the Ithaca numbers, then it's 1900
The stock has been cracked and repaired in the past, and there is oil damage behind the reciever.
Since this is a "hardware gun", rather than an actual Ithaca, it's real value is as a shooter, and I've got a nice piece of walnut sitting under the bench.
Here's another photo:
Attachments
Top lever1.JPG
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A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...

.270 WIN
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:15 pm
One more:
Attachments
Right side1.JPG
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A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...

.410
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:31 am
PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:43 am
Nice!

How did the restock job go? Also, would you like to share load data?

.270 WIN
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:06 pm
The butt stock is hanging in the closet to let the last coat of finish dry, and I am currently checkering the forearm.

On your shells, are you able to load 2 1/2 or 2 3/4"?
A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...

.410
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:31 am
PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:36 pm
2 3/4. reason I ask is I can get a crass for a decent price but have held off due to being uncertain about what is safe for the wire barrels.

Did you do a tru oil finish?

.270 WIN
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 6:45 am
Simpleman,
While my wife and I spend a lot of time shooting Black Powder cartridge loads, I do have a nice reduced-power smokeless load worked up that we use.
Rem. Gun Club hulls
CCI 209 primer
21 gr. PB powder
Claybuster 1100-12 wads (although I have used the Green Duster, as well)
7/8 oz shot. We load #9 for me, and #8 for the wife. She shoots more trap, and I'm a skeet shooter.

This load breaks birds all day long, both on the skeet field and at 5-stand.

Yes, I am using Tru-oil. I love the way that it gives a good hard finish. But I am thinking about lightly carding it with steel wool after checkering, and giving it a couple of coats of Danish oil. This will give it more of a satin finish, instead of the high-gloss.
A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...

.270 WIN
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 7:52 pm
I forgot to add:
If you are just planning on purchasing the gun, make sure that you check the chamber length before you shoot it. Most were made with 2 9/16 chambers. They can still be shot, but either the chambers have to be lengthened or the shells cut down and roll crimped.

I had the chambers lengthened on this one, and then broke down and bought a reamer so I could do it myself. Have done 2 since then.
A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...

.410
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:31 am
PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:26 pm
Thank for the data!

You make an excellent point on the chambers and one that goes overlooked. I've passed, like many Im sure, on some solid looking doubles for fear of not being able to use it easily. I think I'll do some digging this spring and see what I can find.

As for finishes I too love the tru oil. Ive never tried the danish oil, ive just always used johnsons paste wax without issue... figured if it works for antique furniture should be decent on a stock lol. Always open to new ideas though.

Copper BB
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Feb 29, 2012 4:14 pm
PostPosted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:40 am
Hi BPSkeeter. I know that the Crass/Lewis dates are in dispute, but I have a 1903 Ithaca Quality one, 16 gauge, twist steel tubed gun that clearly has the Crass frame. I also have a 1904 Damascus Ithaca which clearly has the Lewis frame. I'll try to attach a photo of the 1903 Crass if the file size is small enough. The gun is choked Improved Modified (65%) in the right barrel and Light Modified in the left. My guess is that it was originally owned by a lefty who had the triggers reversed.....or, it was owned by an Englishman who only shot driven, high incoming birds (highly unlikely). Anyway, I hunt pheasants with it using RST short case/low pressure ammunition, and hunt ducks with 1 0z Bismuth handloads (longshot powder) to a pressure near black powder loads. It weighs 6 lbs 10 ounces, and it is fun to hunt with.
Attachments
Ithaca Crass 16.jpg
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.270 WIN
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:34 pm
Aren't they just a joy to shoot?
I've fallen in love with them.
I'm getting ready to post some photos on a different thread of a Fletcher Special that was made by Ithaca that I am restocking. It's a 1900 serial #, but with a Lewis reciever.
A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:50 am
Skeeter, I have to admit, that I never gave it much thought, but you have me looking for a nice blackpowder gun. It just looks like alot of fun to take to the range. So if my wife beats me over the head because I bought another gun, remember one thing. IT'S YOUR FAULT. heh :D
--Jim

.270 WIN
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: Dayton, OH
PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:20 pm
Just get his & hers, and the problem will be solved! :lol:
Just don't let her outshoot you. You'll never hear the end of it!
A flash in the pan, a puff of smoke, and a prayer to the great Lord on high...
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 4:15 am
Ummm, too late. with a .22 and iron sights, she can outshoot me. I swear the woman has levels in her eyes.
--Jim

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