16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Posts: 43 Location: Chesterfield VA

https://photobucket.com/share/ac2a62f5-2b46-4247-971c-e909f11abaf6

Took delivery of 1927 NID, single non-selective trigger, 28” barrels, 2 3/4” chambers, IC/IM, bright shiny bores.

Good condition overall (I hope I look this good at 99 years)

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

Nice looking gun !

I did notice that even the screw slots are still in alignment. Is one of the slots buggered a little or is that an illusion on the photo?

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1799 Location: Minnesota

Werent they short chambered still in 1927 or did someone lengthen them?
Hope you enjoy it!

Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Posts: 43 Location: Chesterfield VA

Buggered screws, though slight, are present. Tradeoff for reasonable price.

My search for chamber length was confusing/contradictory but most showed 2 3/4”. Modern shells dropped into chambers and closed without obstruction. I have a friend who is a 16 ga guru so we will do a final check before our next hunt. I may prevail on him to provide 2 1/2 or 2 9/16 of which he has a stash.

I will probably not ever use anything heavier than 1 oz

Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Posts: 29 Location: Bay City, MI

Just because the gun will close on a 2 3/4" shell does not mean it is a 2 3/4" chamber. Remember, the chamber is sized to fit a FIRED shell. An unfired 2 3/4" shotgun shell is around 2 1/4" - 2 1/2" long, so it will fit in a 2 9/16" chamber but the fired hull is longer.

^^ THIS! ^^

Courtesy of Dave Noreen, who knows:

Beginning with the first NID catalogue in 1926 they state -- "Unless otherwise ordered Ithaca .410 Cal. and 20 Gauge guns are chambered for the standard 2 1/2 inch shell, 16 Gauge for 2 9/16 inch, 12 Gauge for 2 3/4 inch and 10 Gauge for the standard 2 7/8 inch shell." The 28 gauge doesn't appear in NID period catalogues until 1932 though they did make some. Beginning with the 1927 catalogue the sentence is changed to - "Unless otherwise ordered Ithaca .410 Cal. guns are chambered for the standard 2 1/2 inch shell, 16 Gauge for 2 9/16 inch, 20 and 12 Gauge for 2 3/4 inch and 10 Gauge for the standard 2 7/8 inch shell."

Ithaca catalogues for 1926, 1927, 1927-1928, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931-1932, 1932, No. 50F, and No. 51S, all list 16-gauge as 2 9/16-inch chambers. Beginning with the 1932 catalogue the 28-gauge with 2 7/8 inch chamber is added to the list and it also introduces the 3 1/2 inch Magnum Ten Gauge. By Ithaca catalogue No. 51F the 16-gauge is finally listed with 2 3/4-inch chambers and the 410-bore with 3-inch chambers. I believe the catalogues No. 51 equate to 1934.

Some of today's nominally 2 3/4" shells are shorter than that length. The Remington Game Loads used to be, but when last measured are no longer. The Aguila 1 oz. were.

Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Posts: 43 Location: Chesterfield VA

Rather than obsess over chamber length, I went ahead and placed an order with RST for some 2.5”

Expensive, but I applied “hunter higher math”, weighing price of ammo versus how many shots I may actually make and figuring in the price of airfare and lodging. All of that makes ammo price pale into insignificance. Also less than if I pay for a tank or two of gas for my friend’s truck. Smile

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3526 Location: Illinois

Zactley!!!!!!!

Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 707 Location: WA/AK

Ithaca's Harry Howland designed non-selective single trigger was introduced in the 1932 Ithaca Gun Co. catalog and was offered retro- fitted to any Ithaca from 175000 onwards (aka all Flues models and NIDs). So, the gun in question was likely returned to Ithaca for it or it languished in inventory for quite a while.

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1537 Location: Western WA

Kjack, the chamber length can be readily established by probing with a plastic drinking straw, a thin machinists ruler, dental pick, or other suitably sensitive object. Feel for the edge of the chamber, making and comparing multiple measurements to confirm the depth. Most of the time a prominent lip will be present but sometimes it’s merely a change in texture. You will figure it out quickly.

B.

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1286 Location: Nebraska

Joined: 18 Apr 2018 Posts: 29 Location: Alaska

2 3/4" 16 gauge shells were not a standard production item until 1932, although earlier specimens have been reported. In 1932 Remington added 16 gauge to the model 11 line. They gave it a 2 3/4" chamber and made 2 3/4" shells for it.

2 3/4" chambers for 16 gauge did not appear in the Ithaca catalogue as a standard item until 1935.

Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 707 Location: WA/AK