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I just got an old Ithaca Army bullseye gun made in the late 1950's. Anyone interested in seeing it and comparing it to whats being done today? It's 50 years old and it just shot 1.75 inch groups from a rest today at 50 yards. I have about 5 photos to post but can't figure out how.

Thanks TJ

TJ,

I'd love to see it. In fact, I have a very special wadcutter gun project in the works right now that involves an old Ithaca slide. If you would like, I could host and post the pictures for you. If you're interested, send them in an e-mail to jimmykeeney@yahoo.com, and I'll get them up ASAP.

~Jim Keeney

_________________
"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Jim

Photos sent. Thanks for the help.

Everyone,

Here are the photos TJ sent me. They should be available as long as I am.












"5 shots each of 230 Gr Remington hardball shot bullseye style - one handed at 15 yards. Just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover." - tjtucker


"Its a better shooter than my Baer Premier II with the 1 1/2 50 yard guarantee. I shot about 100 230 GR. hardball rounds with no FTF or FTE, and it was saying "Give me more! It's been a long time since anyone paid any attention to me!" - tjtucker



Nice Old School gun. I like it.

~Jim Keeney

_________________
"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

nice!

I saw something similar at the gunshow in Dulles last night. Colt 'C' suffix frame that had checkering and swaged magwell, with a randall slide. Gun was clean, and the price was <$700 - just not my cup of tea

What a pleasant surprise, seeing a pistol I made many, many os in the old days. The Micro sight was one of the few types available. I mostly low mounted them and many times I debated Micro for not putting the windage ssscrew through the blade like S&W. Yhat was always a big problem with Micro. Trigger shoes were popular also and I began making my own from aluminum and sold thousands of them. Those were the days when many accesories came into being and I can remember designing many of them. I have many stories about this period. Austin

Jim
A personal thanks for posting the photos.

Austin

Thanks for the post. I called Mr. Tripp to possibbly have it hard chromed but he suggested I might want to have it re-blued to make it period correct. What do you think? Mr. Tripp was saying I might want to have the trigger redone because it might go full-auto. If possible can you tell us how they use to do the trigger back when this gun was built. Man is the stippling sharp how was it done?

TJ

New photos and text added

_________________
"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

We did action jobs just about the same as today. The trigger pull was always kept at 3 1/2 + lbs and you always held the trigger back when you let the slide down, causeing the disconnecter to not engage the sear. This feature is arguementive these days but always taught in the early days to prevent the hammer from following. Trigger shoes were a must and made the trigger pull seem lighter. The stippling was dddone with a three sided punch held at an angle which lifted metal when struck with a hammer. I completely described this in another post a while ago. About a finish, I would reblue it. Austin

Austin

I now know since the old girl shoots so well I must have her re-blued.
Now I just need to know who is the best at re-blueing any suggestions anyone? Maybe I could send it to Colt I have always loved their blueing.

Thanks again Jim for posting the photos.

TJ

TJ,

You're quite welcome. If you get it refinished and want to post more, let me know.

~Jim Keeney

_________________
"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

TJ,
Nice find!
I'd say you got yourself a keeper. I have a thing for old bullseye pistols.
Got a couple of old Clarks and couple of Giles. (and on the lookout for more)
I vote for leaving it blue. If the trigger is not giving you trouble (doubling or falling to half cock) I'd leave it alone.
Thanks for sharing.

DM

Thanks for the post I'm glad you like the old girl. How are the Giles comapred to Clarks. I have a Colt Gold Cup built in 1970 by Clark.
I been looking for a Giles I missed one about a month ago. I'm still kicking myself.
TJ

Ah yes, the old "Micro rear and Harpoon front" sight treatment. My first IPSC gun was done by a fellow who had been doing bullseye guns for decades, and that's what he wanted to put on. I held out for a ramp front and Wichita rear. Were it mine, I'd leave the trigger alone. If it is going to fail, it will, now or a hundred years from now. Until then, leave it alone. (It obviously has lasted this long, right?)

Even though trigger shoes were all the rage, I never could get used to them, so never had a gun with one. But that one I'd leave on, just to keep it period-correct.

Patrick

Thanks for the reply. You should try and get a trigger shoe. Austin B. says it makes a difference in the felt trigger pull. Maybe that's why this gun has moved up to a number two status as my favorite gun. It's just below a 1970 Colt Gold Cup wadcutter gun done by Clark.

TJ

Tried 'em, hated 'em, ditched 'em. But on that gun, I'd keep it.

TJ,
I got really lucky on those Giles, one in .45 and one in .38 and both of them look like they may have only seen 500-700 rds. And both with original test targets.( both pistols grouped in the 1 1/2 in range@ 50yds)
On the 38, it wouldn't function reliably with the original Colt mags. Clark modified them and it is 100% now.
The Clark longslide has a S&W bbl and will shoot 1 1/2 in. @ 50yds.
The other Clark has had many, many thousands of rounds thru it and it is starting to loosen up a bit.
DM