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*TRULY EXCEPTIONAL, ONE-OF-A-KIND, ITHACA NID SOUSA/ $1000 GRADE 12 GAUGE MAGNUM.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:32,500.00 USD Estimated At:65,000.00 - 95,000.00 USD
*TRULY EXCEPTIONAL, ONE-OF-A-KIND, ITHACA NID SOUSA/ $1000 GRADE 12 GAUGE MAGNUM.
SN 500536. Cal. 12 ga. 3" Chambers. Of 87 12-ga magnum guns produced, this is the only one listed by Walter Snyder as a $1000 grade, and referred to by SN on p. 71 of his THE ITHACA GUN COMPANY FROM THE BEGINNING. It has 30" bbls with matted game rib fitted with two ivory beads, engraved "Ithaca Gun Co." and "Ithaca, N. Y U.S.A." on tops. Breech ends are engraved with 1-7/8" triangles of well cut, deep relief, medium scroll. Engine turned bbl flats are stamped with SN, "S" (Sousa), "3" CHAMBER", with a cross on each bbl, along with a "4". Bottom of lump is stamped "Nitro Powder". Bottoms of bbls are stamped with a crowned "D", and "BEST FLUID STEEL". There are also 1" triangles of engravings at sides of muzzles. Case hardened, special magnum, NID action does not have pin cocking indicators, but is fitted with gold-plated single selective trigger with "R", "S", and "L" gold inlaid on top tang in front of specially shaped safety button. Water table is stamped with SN, "S" and gauge. Action is crisply filed and engraved with exceptional, relief, medium scroll with ribbons running through pattern framing full relief gold inlaid dogs and game in extensively shaded vignettes, giving dramatic depth to subjects; a pointer is on left side, a setter on right, and a duck flies over marsh with gold inlaid reeds below, on bottom of action. Scroll engraved trigger guard bow is gold inlaid with classic Sousa grade jubilantly proud bare chested mermaid. SN is at grip. The scroll engraving on this gun, is a cut above that on the Sousa grade pictured in THE ITHACA GUN, both in complexity and execution. Very dense, flame figured American walnut full capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-5/8" over Hawkins red open-sided pad. Checkered side panels and 32LPI checkering at grip have arcaded borders. Matching beavertail ejector forend has inset fancy rosewood tip, and J-spring, as well as Deeley type secondary release. Interior of forend iron is line border engraved with some scroll on latch parts, and is stamped with SN, and "S". Bore diameter: left-.734, right -.734. Bore restrictions: left -.042 (Extra full), right -.026 (IM). Wall thickness: left -.031, right -.036. Drop at heel: 2-1/2", drop at comb: 1-5/8". Weight: 9 lbs. 4 oz. LOP: 14-5/8". PROVENANCE: Ithaca Gun Co invoice for this gun listed as $1000 grade, dated Nov 15, 1938, and sold for $1000.00 plus extras, including beavertail forend at $21.65, recoil pad at $2.25, and ivory sights at $1.10, for a total of $1025.00 to E. J. Britt of Lumberton, NC. Extras are then scratched out and have a penciled in notation stating: "Sent corrected Inv. 11/17" for a total of $1000.00. CONDITION: Excellent. as found. Bbls retain approx 95% orig blue, thinning around breech, with some light and scattered freckling, has not been cleaned. Action retains most of its dark case hardening colors, percentage difficult to ascertain, because of depth of engraving. High points of engraving are pleasingly silvered. Rear of top tang, thumbpiece of top lever, left part of bottom of action, and rear of trigger guard bow are brown patina. Trigger retains a considerable amount of its gold-plating. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig finish, which is slightly crazed and frosted, with a number of light marks and scratches. Checkering is slightly worn and dark. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout. Action is tight, with top lever right of center. Ejectors are slightly out of time. Trigger works. An incredibly rare investment quality Ithaca. 4-49726 MGM307