I have my Grandfather's Ithaca double, which he bought (custom made to order to his specs) in 1909. I'm not sure if it is a "Flues" model or a NID. I think it is a Flues model, but am far from an expert in these old guns.
Mine has seen a bit more wear and neglect (but not a lot) than the one in your pic. Lovely guns.
If you know a bit about the Ithacas, I would love to hear about them. "papa's" gun has 26" barrels, choked Full/Full (at his request - a dime will balance on the muzzle, and not fall through) and the stock has a bit more drop than standard, again, at his request. It has "fluid steel" barrels, and extractors, not ejectors. (Papa once told me if he had known better at the time, he would have spent the extra money and gotten ejectors - I think it was $1.50 more..) Serial # is 1900XX.
The safety button has a different look than the one in the picture, it is more "flat" the raised center portion is square and checkered, and there is no "slope" up or down from the checkered section. Also, there is a hole in the rear, where the letter "S" can be seen when the gun is on "safe", and is a 3 position safety. Forward is off, and the safety goes "on" when the action is opened. Mid position is ON, and rear position is both OFF, and disengaged (does NOT go on when the action is opened).
There are no pins or other cocking indicators visible on the action.
Papa taught me that the gun need NEVER be snapped (dryfired). Put the safety in the rear position, action open, hold the triggers back and close the gun, the hammers are down.
The gun had a guarantee on the springs, which were guaranteed to NEVER "take a set". NEVER. Not for the life of the original owner, but NEVER! you have to love the faith they had in their work in those days! I also have (somewhere) a letter from Ithaca, dated 1949, Papa had written them, asking about the guarantee on the springs, and they reaffirmed it was still good. It is a form letter, but also ended with an obviously hand typed paragraph warning that the gun should not be used with the "express" loads, as they were not needed, being "akin to using a bulldozer to thread a needle", and signed by the Ithaca VP at the time.
Any info on the history of this model (and which one it correctly is?) would be helpful.
Thanks.
Again, BEAUTIFUL guns, we shall not see their like again....