| Approximate Year | Observed Serial Number Range | |------------------|------------------------------| | 1969 | 100,000 – 120,000 | | 1970-1971 | 120,000 – 140,000 | | 1972-1973 | 140,000 – 160,000 | | 1974-1975 | 160,000 – 180,000 | | 1976 | 180,000 – 195,000 | | 1977-1978 | 195,000 – 210,000 |
While many Ithaca models have specific year-by-year tables, the is often categorized by major production milestones:
If your serial number is worn or missing, you can narrow down the production era using these design changes noted in factory history:
While their online serial number guide focuses heavily on shotguns (like the Model 37), it is a primary starting point for company history.
Some very early Model 49s (1961–1962) had the serial number only on the barrel, not the receiver. If the barrel was swapped, the serial number is effectively lost. ithaca model 49 serial number lookup portable
When cross-referencing your serial number, ensure you have a standard Model 49, as variants have different value structures and separate production numbers:
(For a printed/portable paper, include references from authoritative gun-reference books, museum catalogs, and known collector guides—search these sources for specifics to cite.)
When Ithaca went out of business in 1978 (and later revived under different ownership), many of the original production records were lost in factory moves, fires, or simply discarded. Unlike Winchester’s detailed ledgers or Colt’s archives, Ithaca’s serialization was inconsistent.
But how old is yours? Here is what you need to know about the Ithaca Model 49 serial number lookup 1. Where to Find the Serial Number | Approximate Year | Observed Serial Number Range
Look just in front of the trigger guard or near the lever hinge assembly.
In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive guide on how to look up the serial number of your Ithaca Model 49 portable shotgun, what information you can expect to find, and some valuable resources to help you in your search.
The single most important fact about the Model 49 is that from its introduction in until January 1, 1969 , the guns were manufactured without serial numbers. The 1968 Gun Control Act mandated serial numbers on all long guns, meaning only Model 49s produced from 1969 until the end of production in 1978-1979 will have one.
Determining the exact manufacturing date for an Ithaca Model 49 "Saddlegun" When cross-referencing your serial number, ensure you have
The serial number on the Ithaca Model 49 is generally located on the .
Numbers from this era generally run sequentially, beginning around 100,000 and progressing upward until Ithaca changed ownership and numbering systems in the mid-1970s. 3. The Late Era (1975–1979)
📌 Do not routinely disassemble the receiver of an Ithaca Model 49. The frame is cast from a relatively soft zinc-aluminum alloy. Repeatedly driving the steel assembly pins in and out will quickly wallow out the holes, causing permanent mechanical looseness and cycling failures. Ithaca Model 49 - Gun Trader Shows
version with a tubular magazine, produced for a shorter window before being replaced by the Model 72. Deluxe/Presentation Grades: