A Little 4E Love!

[Silvers]

Just wondering, from the collectors' point of view, what premium % if any would a McGraw signature add to the perceived value of an Ithaca? Or for that matter, how about a Gough signature on a Fox? frank

[Stan Hillis]

Neither my 3E nor my friend's 5E is signed.

[DarylC]

Well I'm not a collector per say, just a shooter and a signature wouldn't get my motor running. I look for guns that fit me, have good triggers and I can shoot reasonably well. If they have a signature it might help if I decide to move it down the road.

[Stan Hoover]

I have not encountered an NID with McGraw’s signature, only Knick Single Barrel Trap models. Where I find the signature most frequently is on the left side of the frame in the lower right corner in the floral engraving as pictured. While on the rare side, I’ve seen it on maybe 8 - 10 Knick 4E & 5E’s.

Per Ithaca Gun Company From the beginning by Walt Snyder, Bill McGraw was working alone by the 1950’s when the company contracted with Justin Michelina in Florida to engrave Ithaca guns. Michelina is known to have engraved grade 4 and 5 single barrel trap guns. This seems to be the era when McGraw signed some of his work on SBT guns. (I didn’t locate where Walt wrote directly about Michelina doing some Ithaca work, but he wrote there was some level of competitiveness, hence McGraw choosing to sign his work.

Ralph Allen was employed as a factory engraver during the 1967-71 time frame, Allen signed much of his work, sometimes very prominently. (I have not encountered a Ralph Allen signed gun.

William Mains began engraving Ithaca guns circa 1968-1985. Bill McGraw retired in 1968, leaving us a 61-year legacy of his gun artistry.

[Canuck]

Dug two No. 4E NIDs out of the safe and nothing. What vintage is the gun that is signed?

1957

[Canuck]

Well I'm not a collector per say, just a shooter and a signature wouldn't get my motor running. I look for guns that fit me, have good triggers and I can shoot reasonably well. If they have a signature it might help if I decide to move it down the road.

I'm the same but I'll admit it got my motor running a bit. Not all were signed and it's cool that I now one one anyways.

[Canuck]

I have not encountered an NID with McGraw’s signature, only Knick Single Barrel Trap models. Where I find the signature most frequently is on the left side of the frame in the lower right corner in the floral engraving as pictured. While on the rare side, I’ve seen it on maybe 8 - 10 Knick 4E & 5E’s.

Per Ithaca Gun Company From the beginning by Walt Snyder, Bill McGraw was working alone by the 1950’s when the company contracted with Justin Michelina in Florida to engrave Ithaca guns. Michelina is known to have engraved grade 4 and 5 single barrel trap guns. This seems to be the era when McGraw signed some of his work on SBT guns. (I didn’t locate where Walt wrote directly about Michelina doing some Ithaca work, but he wrote there was some level of competitiveness, hence McGraw choosing to sign his work.

Ralph Allen was employed as a factory engraver during the 1967-71 time frame, Allen signed much of his work, sometimes very prominently. (I have not encountered a Ralph Allen signed gun.

William Mains began engraving Ithaca guns circa 1968-1985. Bill McGraw retired in 1968, leaving us a 61-year legacy of his gun artistry.

Thanks for sharing that info! I'd love to find a copy of Walt Snyders book.

[Researcher]

There is a lot on Bill Mains and Jacqueline Favre engraving Knicks, including the serial numbers they did, in Frank Conley's book The American Single Barrel Trap Gun.

[Stan Hoover]

a bit more of Bill McGraw’s work, Ithaca’s longest tenured engraver. These 2 guns were Bill’s personal guns which he never completed.

[Stan Hoover]

And a Model 37R 20 gauge

[Jeff S]

Very cool Stan. Thanks for sharing those pictures. I have not been very familiar with Ithaca’s, or Bill McGraw, but clearly he did beautiful work. The ducks on the SxS are gorgeous, and the mermaid catches my eye too.

[Stan Hoover]

The duck scene was found on early Model 37 Dollar Grades, I don’t recall ever seeing it on an Ithaca double. And of course the mermaid was on the Sousa Grade guns.
This particular trigger guard with the mermaid is actually not of the same serial number. Makes me wonder if Bill pulled it out of his drawer before leaving the factory, and still hadn’t taken the time to change the serial number. A person has to wonder what Bill had in mind for the areas that were to be completed yet, I guess we will never know