POTD: Early Gun Marketing Was Stellar – The Ithaca Auto & Burglar
Sam.S 02.27.24
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Ithaca Auto & Burglar was a short-barreled shotgun made from 1921 to 1934 for self-defense and police use. It was a pistol-gripped version of Ithaca’s standard double-barrel shotgun with 10-12-inch barrels. Two main variants existed – the early Model A (this gun today) based on the 20 gauge Flues action, and the later Model B which used the improved New Double model in 12 or 20 gauge. Around 4,000 were produced. The name referred to automobile use, but police and guards also adopted it. In 1934, the National Firearms Act classified short-barreled shotguns and AOWs as restricted, effectively ending sales. So the Auto & Burglar had a short 13-year production window. Though few were made, these factory pistol shotguns are rare collector’s items today, with prices starting around $4,000. They skirted NFA rules by having smoothbore barrels, but replicas made today have rifled barrels and avoid restrictions.
“Produced between 1925 and 1934. Comes with a copy of a law firm letter that attributes the shotgun to one Floyd Patton, a banker from Blue Springs, Nebraska, who reportedly bought it after his bank got robbed. The letter states that the gun never needed to be fired in anger while owned by Patton. Fixed single bead sight, solid rib between the “SMOKELESS POWDER STEEL” and “MADE IN U.S.A.” marked barrels, and both sides of the frame decorated with a pointer in a field over the “AUTO & BURGLAR GUN/ITHACA GUN CO. ITHACA, N.Y.” markings. Checkered forearm and pistol grip stock, with the latter showing a nice curvature and very sharp raised web knuckle for recoil management. Includes a brown leather holster with Auto & Burglar branding on the flap.”
Lot 3539: Ithaca Model A Auto & Burglar Gun, Class III/NFA AOW w/Holster -Ithaca Auto & Burglar Model A Double Barrel Smoothbore Pistol, Class III/NFA Transferrable “Any Other Weapon”, with Original Holster. (n.d.-e). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved February 27, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/71/3539/ithaca-model-a-auto-burglar-gun-class-iiinfa-aow-wholster.
