Ithaca Grade 4E SBT, 12Ga – 34”, 85% CASE COLOR, 1916

Introduced in 1915, the Ithaca Flues Model Single Barrel Trap Gun was a purpose-built gun optimized for the popular game of Trap and Ithaca hit a home run with their beautifully engraved, handsomely stocked Grade 4E.  The locking mechanism was/is very heavily built with 5 points of lock-up; a broad underlug bite used in combination with a double cross-bolt at the top of the action.  If you consider that the two barrel extensions that are hand-fitted to the slots in the action also act as locking points, prohibiting lateral movement in a serious way, I count 5 locking points…very robustly built for high-volume shooting.  Ithaca is most famous for their later model “Knickerbocker” SBT, which was advertised as a stronger, better gun than the earlier Flues Model as we show here.  We are shotgun experts here at Vintage Firearms, and we have a gunsmithing department that works on the best guns the world has to offer.  We know the mechanics of each gun.  I say this to point out that the Ithaca Flues Model SBT is a stoutly built gun, fully up to any competitive trap shooting a shooter could dish out.  Keep in mind that marketing was in play back in 1922 when the new Ithaca “Knick” was introduced, and they had to hype up the new offering.  Many believe the Flues Model SBT was not a strong gun, but that is simply due to the advertising of the day.  When you examine the engineering of the Flues Model, it is strong and ready to play.  This Grade 4E SBT, sn274353T built in 1916, is in excellent condition and has the desirable 34” ventilated rib barrel full choked with mirror shiny bore, fit tight to the hinge pin and breech face, rib tight, double beads, and clear sharp matting and engraving.  The action retains 85% factory case color (thinning but there), crisp sharp engraving, excellent screws, and superb mechanics.  THIS IS A VFI CERTIFIED GUN, HAVING HAD THE ACTION AND FOREND IRON STRIPPED TO THE SMALLEST PARTS, ULTRASONIC CLEANED AND SCRUBBED, EACH PART INSPECTED FOR INTEGRITY, LUBRICATED AND REASSEMBLED, COMPLETE WITH A 90-DAY MECHANICAL WARRANTY, A $450 SERVICE IN OUR SHOP.  We replaced the top lever spring during this process and the trigger pull breaks at 3.25lbs.  The wood is well-figured walnut with excellent checkering and fleur-de-lis patterns, ebony inlay at the tip of the forend and the metal-to-wood fit is superb.  There are a few handling marks, no cracks, and the gun has a long LOP of 14 13/16” terminating in a Hawkins pad that is very effective at absorbing recoil.  Weighing 8lbs. 1oz. and balanced just ahead of the hinge pin, this is a dynamic handling, competitive trap gun that will compete with any modern, purpose built trap gun including Krieghoff, Perazzi, Kolar, etc.  Many don’t realize that each of these vintage guns were hand-tuned by the best choke men in the business.  The choke taper measures 3 ¾” long and produces exceptional patterns that will win tournaments for you.  Can you imagine what it would cost to buy a modern SBT gun with hand engraved scenes, decorative wood and checkering to equal this Ithaca Grade 4E?  The cost would be over 5 times as much as our price on this gun!  See specifications below.  This is a high condition, fully serviced gun needing nothing but a date at the traps…a great value.  Thanks for looking!