Please help with Ithaca ID - pic intensive...

[cledford3]

I would like to ask for help evaluating this pistol for what it appears to be, what I might consider doing with it (restoring, or leaving as is, or updating parts to be more historically accurate) and what decrease in value would be associated with the damage (stippling) on the frame. I’d also like to know if the parts are historically accurate as they are. I did use a reference book and it looks like (based on things like counting the number of serrations in hammer, on the safety, the ridges on main spring housing, etc.) the parts would be correct for an Ithaca gun, but some (such as slide release) based on finish, appear to be newer and I assume replaced.

From what I’ve been able to gather, the pistol (at least the slide) is an Ithaca. Is this correct as for the frame as well?

Aside from the pictures, here is what I know about the gun:

- On the left side off frame, below the mag release, is an upside down “L” stamped. What does this indicate?

- It has the “FJA” stamped on left side of frame

- There is a weird, double ended “arrow” stamp where the front of the trigger guard meets the rest of the frame. What does this indicate?

- There is a “3” stamped on right side of frame above trigger guard. What does this indicate?

- The is a “P” stamped on the right side of the barrel lug. What does this indicate?

- There is a flaming bomb, stamped sideways, under the firing pin stop. What does this indicate?

- There are no obvious serial numbers anywhere on slide.
Shouldn't there be?

- There appears to be a very faint arsenal stamp on the right side of the frame, where the sear and safety pins is located. Does this mean it was refinished by the military?

Also, while the purchase paperwork (from a gunstore) matches the serial number on the frame, the numbers are, to me not on a perfect line, as if each numeral was hand stamped. Is this normal? While I’d think the frame would show obvious signs of damage had someone attempted to change the serial number, which it does not, it also looks, well, odd. To best describe it, the serial numbers appears to be struck at different depths and again, slightly uneven in spacing or from on a uniform line.

Thanks for the help.

-Calvin

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0248.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0257.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0256.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0255.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0254.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0253.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0252.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0251.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0249.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p32/cledford/IMG_0250.jpg

[mayagrafix]

in order to figure out if the slide belongs to the frame, please post first three (or more) digits of serial number. For example: 123 456 xxx (if the S/N is a 9 digit).

My guess is that this pistol has been re-parked and the weird, double ended “arrow” stamp is an importers mark. Lets see what more knowledgeable minds have to say :)

[Duane Hansen]

Leave it the way it is and use it as a shooter. The damage has already been done and it will never be original again. With the stipple on the front strap ,it would be very difficult to even try to restore it properly.

[Duane Hansen]

As an aside, the so called wierd double arrow that was spoken of above is an Ithaca Inspection mark used exclusively on Ithaca pistols.

[cledford3]

The serial is: 1856XXX

Thanks for the help.

-Calvin

[bgiven]

It's pretty hard to tell in those pictures, but I think the finish could be original. Better pictures, not taken outside, would certainly help. Obviuosly the stippling on the front grip strap is not original.

[Scott Gahimer]

Finish appears original and parts are correct for an Ithaca in that range. Too back the grip strap is altered. That literally cut the value by at least 50%...to perhaps $600-700.

To rework the strap and refinish the pistol would only reduce value even more.