Ithaca Import vs Modern Perazzi top single barrel MX8

I have the opportunity to buy 2 Perazzi barrels. Both are top singles. One is an older Ithaca Import type 3. The other is a more modern type 4. I understand the forearm differences but not so sure about the rest.

I haven't seen either and don't want to go blind. Help please.

 

PM sent

 

backfencer:
Would it have hurt anybody to give the information Martin R was looking for to everybody?

Ron Burdick

 

Sure, here's what I've learned over the years. I'm sure there are people on here with more experience than myself, so feel free to chime in!

The main difference is the barrel lug design. Ithaca is the Type III and it only fits Type III forearm iron, and the same holds true for the Type IV barrel (Winchester Import and Perazzi USA). Which model of Perazzi do you have? If you don't know, you can PM me the first (2) serial number's (assuming you have a 5 digit gun). Also, Type III requires it's own specific forearm iron and wood per barrel, as the barrel lugs are spaced differently between the O/U vs a Top Single, whereas "MOST" Type IV's utilize only 1 forearm for both barrels. There are a few competent gunsmith who can also "fit" and modify the barrels to be used as needed also.

There are some anomalies I've heard about (such as late Ithaca Imports being Type IV's as an example), but for the majority of the time I think this logic holds true.

 

Thanks for the response. I understand the forearm differences. I more concerned about ribs, bores, chokes, metal hardness, value, etc....all the stuff other than the forearm & lugs, if any. Although I did not know the type 3 is married to the barrel.

More info would be helpful.
Thanks again.

 

BackerFencer:
Thanks for the info. I recently purchased a mx3 that I hope to use for SC, that is my reason for wanting to know as much as I can about this model.

Ron Burdick

 

No problem. I've picked up most of my knowledge over 30 years of playing with P-guns, but most of the info is available on the 'net too.

 

Be sure to measure the bores & chokes, many many many used barrels have had the insides messed with. It was very common for the older fixed choke guns to have 0.040" or more restriction.

 

That's great advice! A barrel mic doesn't lie...

 

A problem with the old Perazzis is that they did not use CNC machining. They are not all exactly the same. Parts don't always fit.

 

The good thing about old Perazzis is that the steel was probably better quality than the newer barrels and there was lots more hand fitting. Yea, sure an old barrel might need a good P-gun mechanic to give it a few file strokes to fit a receiver and there are occasions when a barrel just doesn't marry a receiver very well. But those times are few and most Perazzi smiths I know think the old guns were higher quality than the newest CNC stuff. But it can be hard to find them "unmolested."