GunsAmerica - Rare Ithaca 4E Flues 2nd Prototype Shotgun - Ithaca Shotguns > Single Bbl > Trap

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Unquestionably one of the rarest Ithaca SBT guns in existence with impeccable provenance. According to Frank F. Conley, author of the landmark “The American Single Barrel Trap Gun”, the acknowledged Ithaca SBT prototypes were 4 in number, 246892-3-4-5. This gun is No. 246893. It is listed in the Walter Snyder, Ithaca Historian, authoritative books “The Ithaca Gun Company” under Historic Ithaca Guns as Ithaca Flues Single, 12 ga., 32” barrel, 2nd prototype, Ser. No. 246893. The Historic Ithaca Guns were in the Ithaca Factory Collection that was sold 6/13/1978 to the Navy Arms Company. It is listed in the Ithacagun Customer Acknowledgement for the sale as MISC. – FIREARM FLUES SINGLE – 2nd PROTOTYPE 1914 S/N 246893 12GA/32” BBL. Actual barrel length is 32 5/8”. The production Flues SBT model was introduced in the 1915 Ithaca catalog. Discussions with several noted Ithaca collectors have failed to document the current existence or configuration of the other 3 prototypes.

The gun is based on the Flues Model double barrel receiver utilizing the bottom bolt of the Flues 3 bolt lock up which was introduced in 1908. The upper part of the receiver is extended to match up with the wide barrel breech. The heavily swagged barrel breech has hand fit pinned metal blocks attached to either side on the bottom to match up with the watertable. The receiver tang maintains the Flues safety slide but it is inoperable. The wide ventilated rib is attached with dough nut/round post type fittings. The triggerplate is a standard Flues double straight grip type with the second trigger position filled in. The gun also features an ejector. The forend is straight, not beavertail, with fleur de leis checkering. Receiver engraving is the fantastic pre-1916 Grade 4 style with tight scrolls and pointer and setter dogs on the sides. Receiver bottom features scroll patterns and a mallard duck in flight. Triggerguard engraving features a woodcock. The trigger is gold plated and the stock has a gold initial shield. LOP is 14.5” and the gun weighs 7.2 lbs.

The gun is in fine condition as would be expected of a gun that was maintained in the factory collection for 64 years. The red rubber butt pad has some deterioration from age. The original middle ivory bead is present. The front ivory bead is missing which is the condition the gun was in when I purchased it in 1992. Included with the gun is an autographed copy of Frank Conley’s Limited First Edition book referencing the gun signed 7/26/01. Also included is a copy of the Ithacagun Customer Acknowledgement mentioned previously.

Authenticated factory collection guns are scarce. Factory prototypes are very rare. Given the historical significance of SBT guns to the Ithaca Gun Company and the American trap shooting community, this is truly a unique opportunity.