HUGE UPDATE - Ithaca M49 Saddlegun - Catt57's gun of the day #19

[Catt57]

See the full list of posts here
------------------------------

Ithaca M49 Saddlegun

NOTE: There is more info in the following posts that I discovered after posting this.​

This single shot 22 looks like a Winchester lever action but had a price tag of only $20 dollars in 1960. The gun even had a fake magazine tube to complete the Winchester look. Made from 1960 until 1979, it can handle 22 short, long or long rifle cartridges. It could also be had in 22WMR.

It is a Martini style action operated by a lever. Loading is quite similar to Martini rifle, but the hammer is external and must be cocked manually. Also unlike the Martini, the M49 has very positive extraction.


I received mine as a basket case and it has been extensively refinished and color changed.
Follow this link for the before and after.

These Youtube videos provide detailed disassembly/reassembly instructions. They were invaluable in reassembling this rifle.
Ithaca Model 49S Teardown and Ejector Repair (1of2)
Ithaca Model 49S Teardown and Ejector Repair (2of2)





Here is how it would have originally looked.


-------------------------

Model Number: M49

Available from: 1960 to 1979
Retail price: $20 (1960)
Action Type: Lever Action
Caliber: .22 S, L, and LR (a 22WMR model was also available)
Capacity: Single shot
Barrel Length: 18”"
Barrel Type: Round Blued Steel
Stock Material: American Walnut
OAL: 35”
Length of Pull: 13 7/8”
Weight: 3.75 lbs
Receiver: Painted aluminum
Rear Sight: V notch
Front Sight: Bead
-------------------------

Model Number: M49R
This is the repeater model in .22 long rifle.
They are notorious for loose pins and extractors as the receivers are made of soft pot metal and would wear and stretch around the pins.

Available from: 1961 to 1978
Action Type: Lever Action
Caliber: .22 LR
Capacity: 15 Round
MSRP: $39 (1961)
Barrel Length: 20.0"
Barrel Type: Round Blued Steel
Stock Material: American Walnut
OAL: 37.50"
Length of Pull: 14"
Weight: 6.25 lbs.
Receiver: Painted aluminum
Rear Sight: Open, folding
Front Sight: Bead
-------------------------

Now the close-ups.






Gratuitous glamour shot.

 

[Catt57]

The manual and a couple of 1960s adverts.
Click the thumbnails for the full size image.

 

[Catt57]

Update: I discovered a trove of info on these on an old version of the Ithaca website. (I love the Wayback Machine)
The following info is from the book: The Ithaca Gun® Company ... from the Beginning

Ithaca M49​

The June 1, 1961 price list listed the Saddlegun, chambered for .22 short, long and long rifle ammunition, at $19.95. An old production record titled "Yearly Totals For 1961," reported that 31,879 M-49 "standard" rifles were sold that first year! By January 1962, four models of Saddleguns were available, the M-49 Saddlegun standard (now advanced to $21.95), an M-49 Saddlegun Deluxe at $29.95, a M-49 Saddlegun chambered for the .22 Magnum cartridge at $24.95 and a Saddlegun Magnum Deluxe at $32.95.
As its name implied, the Deluxe model had finely figured wood. In addition, it had a gold plated trigger and hammer along with sling swivels and a leather sling. The magnum model had its caliber incorporated into the barrel roll, but otherwise looked exactly like the non-magnum model. A visual feature was needed to differentiate them so during the first quarter of 1962, a white plastic spacer was added to the butt plate of the magnum model. Other than the barrel mark, that sliver of white plastic was the only visual distinguishing feature of the magnum.
A fifth member was added to the family by May 1, 1962, the M-49 Presentation model selling at $100. The new model had a hand engraved receiver and a gold initial shield inlaid in the stock but did not have a sling or sling swivels. January, 1963, brought the announcement of the M-49 Presentation model with magnum chambering also selling for $100 along with the news that the M-49 was available with a youth stock, which was about 1 inch shorter then the normal stock.
Walnut had been used for the stocks on all of the M-49 models through 1967. The 1968 catalog introduced the use of gray elm replacing the traditional walnut used on the "standard" model." The Deluxe and Presentation models continued with highly figured walnut stocks. Also new that year was the appearance of pressed checkering on the butt stock. Prior to this time, none of the M-49 rifles were checkered.

Another configuration change was made during 1969. The combination front sight and magazine-barrel band was eliminated. The new front sight was dovetailed into the barrel, as was the magazine tube support. During this time the rifle grew about 1/2 inch in length.
No other significant configurations are noted for the remainder of its production life with one brief exception. When the Model 49 Repeater was discontinued in 1972, the remaining inventory of its pressed checkered walnut butt stocks was used on the M-49 and the Model 66 SuperSingle. Guns having these stocks were sold as either a special edition or promotion items as gray elm was continued as the standard stock. All of the Model 49 Repeater checkered stocks were used up in about a year.

The Presentation model was discontinued in 1973, the Deluxe model in 1975 and the standard model at the end of 1978.
Through its production life, the M-49 Saddlegun appeared in some interesting configurations. A special edition Saddlegun was made in 1964 for the St. Louis Missouri bi-centennial celebration. Two hundred Model 49 Deluxe Saddleguns without slings were made and their frames marked, "1764 to 1964, St. Louis, Missouri" They were serial numbered within the 1 to 200 range. Ithaca also sold many M-49 Saddleguns to the Sears Roebuck Co. These guns have a "Ted Williams" mark and are numbered within the regular M-49 serial number range. They have two differing characteristics, a heavier barrel and no false magazine tube.
Examples of M-49 rifles will be found with a Williams or a Redfield peep sight installed. A 1963 ITHACA GUNOGRAM" mentioned, "Model 49 with Blond Maple Stock and Forend. A snappy looking model to liven up your gun rack." I would not be surprised to learn of other M-49 "specials." One thing is certain, the M-49 Saddlegun has an interesting variety of configurations for which to search.

Dating the year of manufacture of a Model 49 is difficult. Firstly, none of the guns had serial numbers prior to 1964. Secondly, no factory records remain linking the year of manufacture to a serial number range. In addition to the previously discussed configuration changes, the following hints may give some help: The Factory Committee notes of January 12, 1962 stated that the rear sights will be changed from a "V" notch to a square notch ... now used on the Deerslayer... ." Also, the April 26, 1962 Factory Committee notes state that new dies for the barrel roll had been ordered which would read "Made in U.S.A." The new words added were Made in. If your M-49 has no serial number AND does not have Made in U.S.A. on its barrel, it was made before mid 1962. Beginning in 1964, Ithaca added serial numbers the first being 120000, implying the number of guns produced up to that time. Beginning in 1969, a nine-digit serial number was used beginning with 490310000. The 490 prefix was necessary to meet requirements of the 1968 gun law.

The Saddlegun was one of the most successful of any of the Ithaca Gun Company products. I estimate that over 500,000 were produced! Originally intended as a low cost rifle ideal for a new shooter's first gun, its popularity is as intense now as when it was in production. The rifle still has a magnetic personality. Add an original scabbard (there were two to choose from, a black standard and a tan deluxe) and we are ready to ride the range!

 

[Catt57]

Ithaca M49R (Repeater)​

Life has its ups and its downs, especially in the gun business. The brilliant success of the Model 49 Saddlegun was certainly one of Ithaca's "ups." The Model 49R Saddlegun Repeater was, politely put, one of the dimmer lights in the manufacturing history of the company. It all started with the November 17, 1964, Factory Committee meeting whose notes make first mention of the company's interest in a lever action repeater. "Consideration will be given on the budget up to $30,000 for [the combined] research and development on a .22 caliber lever action repeater, Ithaca Gun Company Rib, and Double Gun, with priority in that order." Ithaca management later decided to invite an independent design contractor, Ernest Neale, to design a "M-49 Repeater. Both the Ithaca and the Neale "breadboard" models were discussed at the December 23, 1965 meeting of the Factory Committee where the decision was made to abandon the Neale design and proceed with the Ithaca design.
The notes contain frequent comments on the slow and difficult development of the gun. There must have been significant pressure on the Engineering and Manufacturing Departments to get the new gun to market. One can sense the frustration that existed when reading the Factory Committee notes and the minutes of the annual meetings. Many times an expected shipment date promise was made only to have that expectation dashed when one or another mechanical problem was reported. Finally, after many delays, the 1968 catalog announced "...the new Model Saddlegun Repeater, an authentically styled Western Saddlegun...." A parenthetical statement at the bottom of the page noted "Available Spring 1968."
Originally introduced at $49.95, the retail price increased to $59.95 by July 1969. But price was the least of the M-49 Repeater's problems. Bullet feeding and ejection problems plagued it from the very start. An August 25, 1969 internal memorandum from H. McCullough to D. M. Stanton mentioned that M49R production originated in April 1968. That same memorandum stated that production was halted on November 11, 1968 due to a "...very high in-house rejection rate" and that several changes were necessary. Production resumed after the needed changes were made with McCullough reporting that "A quantity of 11,722 guns were assembled from April to December,

1968". In spite of the 1968 improvements, performance problems continued. Additional engineering effort, which included outside design consultants, could only conclude that the main cause of malfunctions was "...the failure of the shooter to fully stroke the operating lever. In his memorandum Ithaca's John Pitzer suggested that "A tag, sticker or bold print on the instruction tag..." advising the customer to fully operate the lever would improve performance, but then stated "Obviously it will not help sales." Additional mention was made of a new hang tag in notes and letters found in the remaining files from the early 1970s but, at the same time, discussions of dropping the gun from the product line were occurring.

In his memorandum of February 18, 1970, titled Marketing Recommendation - Model 49 Repeater, Ashton Edwards made the statement, "The removal of the Model 49R from the product line would greatly enhance dealer attitudes - It would show strength of conviction in our quality and price/value claims and reputation." The old files do not go into the controversy that must have occurred as Ithaca's management wrestled with the M49R dilemma. Exactly when the decision was made to discontinue the M-49R is not documented in the available information. A May 26, 1972 memorandum concerning a replacement policy for the M-49R stated "...production of subject has been stopped." We also know 1970 was the last catalog to advertise the Saddlegun Repeater. It remained in the 1971 dealer price list but omitted from the 1972 list. Ron Sharp recalls production of the Model 49R was shifted to the Dunnville plant when Ithaca stopped production. Most if not all of the Dunnville production was sold in the Canadian market.

During the fall of 1972, Ithaca announced the Model 72 Saddlegun, a gun made in Germany and imported by Ithaca, to replace the M-49R. But what about those customers who still had the M-49R? Ithaca offered two plans to customers sending their M-49R into the company for repair. If the gun had a serial number above 500145000 (shipped from the company approximately after February 1972) the customer was offered a new Model 72 Saddlegun in trade for his M-49R. If the gun had been a lower serial number, the customer was offered a trade-in credit of $45 towards the purchase of a Model 72 or a cash refund of $20. In no case was the M-49R to be repaired or returned to the customer.

There was an additional problem that was not mentioned in the records. The magazine tube insert of early guns was made from a plastic material. While very flexible when new, it became brittle after contact with cleaning solvents and easily broken. The company replaced the plastic inserts with a traditional brass insert and the problem was solved. It is rare to find a M-49R with an original plastic insert. If you find a gun with its original insert, consider it a collector's item and keep it away from cleaning solvents!

The serial number range for the Model 49R Saddle gun began with 100000. (For example, gun number 103163 was the 3,163 gun made.) The 1968 gun law required a serial number with nine digits so a new sequence beginning with 500121000 was established for guns made after January 1, 1969. (For example, gun 500122729 was the 1,729 gun made under the new sequence.) Old production records indicate that 8,947 guns were shipped by year-end 1968, 17,026 during 1969, 6,031 during 1970 and 5,258 during 1971. There is no 1972 record but I doubt many if any M-49R were shipped that year. A serial number notebook records that the first series ran through 116(xxx) and that the second series ran through 500148(xxx). These data predicts approximately 37,000 Model 49 Saddlegun Repeaters were produced throughout its short life.

Interestingly, production of the M-49R continued at the Dunnville, Ontario, Canada plant through 1974.

EDITORIAL: I own two Saddlegun Repeaters, a first year gun serial number 103163 and a late gun, serial number 500122729. Gun 103163 requires a little technique to help it function properly. If the downward motion of the lever is not "snapped" open, the bullet often will not completely enter the carrier and a jam will occur as the action is closed. The same snap motion is also required to completely extract and eject a spent shell. If this technique is not followed, a jam is certain. (Sometimes it jams anyway). The company's finding that most malfunctions are caused from not opening the action "fully" seems to apply to this gun. My personal assessment is that serious damage would occur to the interior of the gun if the shooter tried to force a jammed action. The later gun, 500122729, seems to operate well without any special technique. It is important to recall the words of Ron Sharp, a man who knows the 49R well, shared with me, "The ones that worked initially usually continued to work, those that did not work well initially could never be made to work."

A last personal note: shooters who traded their M-49R Saddlegun for a new Model 72 Saddlegun got a very fine rifle. As the company service manual for the M-72 stated, "Hardly anything ever goes wrong with it." But, if every M-49R was turned in, (which was not the case) what would we collect? And how then could I pay nearly $200 for a gun that does not work?

 

[ILGAC]

I’ve never seen one of the model 49 repeaters, just the single shot model.

Did they use a different action/frame for the repeater? I am trying to imagine how they could modify a single shot falling block action to be a repeating rifle.

 

[Catt57]

I’ve never seen one of the model 49 repeaters, just the single shot model.

Did they use a different action/frame for the repeater? I am trying to imagine how they could modify a single shot falling block action to be a repeating rifle.

It was a completely different design and made with poor quality materials. They are scarce most likely due to wearing out and breaking very quickly.