Ithaca lever .22 ?

[Fishslayer]

Trolling the local gun shop today & came across an Ithaca lever action .22. An internet search makes me believe it's a Model 72.

The thing looked like it just left the factory. The finish is drop dead pretty & the action is easily the equal of a brand new Henry Golden Boy I was playing with last week. Butter!

They're asking $350. What ya think? Are they repopping these or is this an oldie that's been a safe queen all it's life?

 

[CajunBass]

It's probably been a safe queen. I believe they were made for Ithaca by Erma, but could be wrong on that.

The design did later become the Henry.

The price is probably about what I'd expect. They usually have a little nicer finish than your run of the mill Henry.

 

[eveled]

I have no experience with the Ithaca, but I know the Marlin 39, is a great gun. If you can find an older Marlin 39 all the better. No finer lever action .22 has ever been made, IMHO. It also breaks down for easily for cleaning, Ed.

 

[pharmer]

If I remember correctly Ithaca made a single shot Martini type action levergun way back. Looked like the marlin 39. They also had a repeater but I've never seen one. Joe

 

[2152hq]

There's 2 Ithaca leveraction 22 repeaters.

The Model 49R was made at the Ithaca factory and was the followup repeater edition to the singleshot Model 49.

The Model 72 was an import from W.Germany and I believe ERMA was the mfg'r as already pointed out.
The M72 came on the market when the M49R was discontinued.

The 72 and the domestic made 49R look a lot alike. I don't know if they are copys of one another. I don't ever recall working on a M72.

The 49R shares a Zymac(sp?) (zinc alloy) rec'vr with it's single shot Model 49 cousin.
I think the German made Model 72 was an alloy framed gun too but of what lightweight alloy I don't recall.
The Zymac framed Ithaca guns wear quite easily inside on the contact surfaces of moving parts and were prone to cracking under a bit of hard use.
The black paint like finish applied to the frames is often found completely gone from them now from handling and wear.

The 49R came out in the very late 60's and was gone by the early 70's,,1972 I think,, so not a lot of them were made.
Then Ithaca started to import the M72 (1972!) from Germany to take it's place. It was cheaper for them to do that than to mfg'r one here.
I don't recall when the M72 was discontinued. I'd guess in the late 70's,,but that's only a guess.
Google may know,,,

 

[Art Doc]

Very low end rifles. Even in new condition I wouldn't pay $350 for one. Henry is a better gun for less money. Your decision.

 

[murphydog]

The model 72 (Saddlegun) was my very first gun, bought sometime in the mid-70s. Mine has had quite a few rounds fired without any problems. I would not be surprised if the current Henry's parts interchange with it.

I am not up on current pricing on this model or the Henry, but if you like it I think it would make sense to compare them both (finish, pricing, etc.) and make your decision from there. I think my dad paid less than $350 in the 1970s .

 

[BigBill]

These have become very collectable. Your buying a German quality gun for a Ithaca price. I'd offer him $150 point out the bad points? Check the prices online.

These can be habit forming don't forget the rolling block, falling block single shots and the pumps too. It's another avenue of collecting.

 

[Drm50]

Ithaca Lever Action 22

Got one hanging in basement, minus the running gears. Worked
on several, basically a 2nd class novelty. Reciever is pot metal,
poor extractor, not very accurate from my experience. They also
made a single shot. Worked similar to a Martini with a hammer.
Had about same problems. Being a single shot feeding was more
positive!!!

 

[Fishslayer]

Went back & had another look. It's an Ithaca 72A made in West Germany.

They want about what a new Henry goes for but I'm a sucker for older guns & this one looks like it left the factory yesterday.

 

[model70hunter]

Many years ago I had the single shot, it was used like new for about 25 bucks. I used it for a truck knock around gun. I set it against the open truck door and my dog ran into the door. It bent the soft iron barrel.

The sights would not adjust enough to regain accuracy. Using pioneer gun repair 101 I put it in the fork of a tree and bent it back. Worked fine.

Was not a high quality gun. Traded it for a beagle or boat motor.

 

[BB57]

As noted above, the M49 and M72 were made from Zamak alloy (a very high purity zinc alloy) and the M72 is the progenitor of the Henry .22 lever gun.

One of the gun world's oddities is that most gun people absolutely hate "pot metal" and they will criticize arms like the Colt M4 .22 LR series and the new Umarex-Walther PPK/S for being made of "pot metal" when those arms use the same Zamak alloy as the Henry .22 LR lever guns, which those same people usually wax poetic over American quality.

"Pot metal" is famous for dimensional instability and cracking over time, but that's cause by the low purity of the zinc alloy used in the cheap products made with it. The M49 and M72 have successfully demonstrated that this is not an issue with the Zamak alloys used in firearms.

With that said, I'm not a real Henry fan as when it comes to .22 lever actions, I much prefer the Winchester 9422 and the thinner stocked non-clunky feeling versions of the Marlin 39.

In that regard, depending on the configuration, I'd pay $600-$750 for an excellent condition 9422, and I'd pay $550 for a new Browning BL-22, but I would not pay $320 for a new Henry .22 LR. I also would not pay $350 for a minty looking M72. $200-$250 maybe, just because you don't see them much anymore.

 

[clang444]

Just saw a minty Ithaca 72A at a gun show. Asking price was $275 and nobody was interested. If you like the gun, you are better off with a new Henry, you can still get parts and service if needed.

If you have the time and money, a Marlin 39A (pre safety), Browning BL22, or Win 9422 is a much better choice.