Ithaca Auto & Burglar
| Ithaca Auto And Burglar Gun | |
|---|---|
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|
| general information | |
| Country of operation: | United States |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Ithaca Gun Company |
| Manufacturer country: | United States |
| Production time: | 1922 to 1934 |
| Model variants: | A / B |
| Weapon Category: | shotgun |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 420 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 2.10 kg |
| Barrel length : | 257 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | Caliber 20 |
| Visor : | Brass pearl grain, running rail |
| Closure : | Breakdown |
| Charging principle: | Single loader |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Ithaca Auto & Burglar is a shotgun made by the US manufacturer Ithaca Gun Company .
History and description
In 1922, the Ithaca Gun Company launched the Auto And Burglar Gun, a short-barreled side-by-side shotgun with tapless locks intended as a defensive weapon for homeowners and motorists. The weapon was manufactured in two series and had no butt, only a pistol grip.
The first series, commonly referred to as "Model A" (pictured on the right), uses the frame of the 1908 Ithaca Flues shotgun, but has a shortened, slimmer fore-end and a heavily curved pistol grip with a pronounced spur. The hammerless lock is tensioned when the barrels are folded down. It is locked using a cross bolt that engages in an opening in the barrel rib, which is extended to the rear, and a barrel hook under the barrel bundle. A thumb lever on the back of the shaft is used for unlocking.
The second series, usually referred to as "Model B", followed in 1924. This has a modified tensioning mechanism, which, however, still tensions the locks when the barrels are folded down. The locking was only carried out by means of a bolt that engages in the barrel rib, which was extended to the rear, but overall the new locking was designed to be more robust. Here, too, unlocking takes place via a thumb lock on the back of the stock. The pistol grip was changed; the spur disappeared as it was found to be too prone to damage. The new shape has a sharply bent, almost vertical handle. The fore-end of the "Model B" is a little stronger and longer. Shortly after the start of production, the "Model B" got slightly longer barrels (31 cm) and thus became a bit longer (47.2 cm).
In 1934 the Auto And Burglar Gun came to an end. The newly passed National Firearms Act banned private individuals from owning short-barreled shotguns.
Customers were initially banks who wanted to protect their money holdings (back then, banks were not insured against robberies), then security companies, police authorities and homeowners followed. Assaults on motorists on the lonely country and suburban streets were not uncommon and so a leather holster was developed for the Auto And Burglar Gun, which could be strapped to the steering column of the automobile so that the shotgun was within reach.
literature
- Thomas F. Swearengen: The World's Fighting Shotguns. Alexandria, VA, USA, 1978. ISBN 9780686737896