Ithaca lever action ( 49r ) continued...
The rifle you are asking about is the Model 49r. It is a tube fed lever action repeater. It came out after the Model 49 which is a single shot falling block rifle that only looks like a lever action. The lever only opens and closes the action and the M49 had a fake magazine tube that was just a solid piece of metal, not a tube at all.
The 49r that you are inquiring about was very poorly made and almost everyone who owned one had problems with them. My brother's 49r, bought in 1970, was no exception. He returned it twice to Ithaca for repairs and finally sold it out of frustration. Ithaca had so many problems with this model that they soon discontinued it. It was replaced with a new model, the Model 72 saddlegun. It was the same gun that was made previously by ERMA in Germany. It was a fine lever action and it was well designed and well made. The Henry lever action is, I believe, based on this same design. The few working Model 49r Ithaca repeaters that you might see for sale are now collector items. I wouldn't own one myself as a shooter but have talked to a few people that do own one that are happy with them.
The 49r that you are inquiring about was very poorly made and almost everyone who owned one had problems with them. My brother's 49r, bought in 1970, was no exception. He returned it twice to Ithaca for repairs and finally sold it out of frustration. Ithaca had so many problems with this model that they soon discontinued it. It was replaced with a new model, the Model 72 saddlegun. It was the same gun that was made previously by ERMA in Germany. It was a fine lever action and it was well designed and well made. The Henry lever action is, I believe, based on this same design. The few working Model 49r Ithaca repeaters that you might see for sale are now collector items. I wouldn't own one myself as a shooter but have talked to a few people that do own one that are happy with them.
0
-
Yes, I see the edited topic now that the model is a 49r....Makes me look like a dumbazz for answering.. 0 -
There is another version of the single shot. Mine is a Ted Williams
Sears Roebeck model # 340.530430 Now all I need is the fake tube & the forearm and barrel band. Problem is those are worth more than the total gun. I should try to carve a foreend & some type of magazine tube.
That is not the serial number that is the model number.
the serial number is 490569xxx. I can't possibly believe they started at #1.0 -
Your 49 was made 1968 or later. The earlier ones didn't have a serial #. It was not required. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by XP100
Your 49 was made 1968 or later. The earlier ones didn't have a serial #. It was not required.
That is not a true statement... I own a 1966 vintage Model 49, and it has a serial number on it.0 -
TWalker has correct information. The 49 was first, and the 49R came later. The "R" model was such a trouble-prone rifle that Ithaca, eventually, refused to return any that was sent in for repair. Ithaca started to offer vouchers for $$$ off of any new Ithaca firearm, instead of giving back a malfunction 49R.
Another problem with the 49R is the plastic inner magazine tube. It would crack & crumble. If you still have your 49R, and your plastic tube is kaput, then you could look for a brass replacement inner magazine tube. Another company was selling them, until a few years ago.
Also, the Ithaca Model 72 Saddlegun is the granddaddy of the current, modern Henry Repeating Arms H001-series rifles. The Ithaca 72 was the replacement for the poorly-performing 49R. The 49R was discontinued, roughly, around 1972-to-1973.0 -
Well my M49R has a brass inner tube and was hardly fired. I already put 150 rounds through it without a hiccup. I got it used and don't know if it had been sent back to Ithaca for repairs. I guess I should've done a little research on it before the purchase. It was an impulse buy after spending months looking for a Marlin 39A and not being impressed with the Henry H001. Although I do now feel I got beat on the price at $300 [:(] 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
6 comments