06-132-925

NAME – Ithaca Auto-Burglar Model B

TYPE – Double-barreled shotgun

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1925

CALIBER – 15.6x70mmR (20 Gauge 2 ¾ inch)

OVERALL LENGTH – 41.9 cm (16.5 in)

BARREL LENGTH – 25.7 cm (10.1 in)

RIFLING – Smoothbore

CHOKE – Cylinder bore

LOAD – #3 Buckshot

BULLET (PELLET) DIAMETER – 6.4 mm (0.25 in)

BULLET (PELLET) WEIGHT – 1.5 g (23 grains)

NUMBER OF PELLETS – 20

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 338 m/s (1110 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 1711 j (1258 ft/lb)

MUZZLE ENERGY PER PELLET – 86 j (63 ft/lb)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 2.15 kg (4 lb 12 oz)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 2.24 kg (4 lb 15 oz)

SIGHTS – Front bead only

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 20 m (21 yards)

OPERATION – Manual, single-action

TYPE OF FIRE – Double barreled, twin triggers

RATE OF FIRE – 20 rpm

FEED DEVICE – Single round per barrel

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 0.084 kg (3 oz) 2-rounds

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 25 rounds (1 box)

LOAD WEIGHT – 1.05 kg (2 lb 5 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Ithaca Gun Co, Ithaca, NY

STATUS – Out of production

SERVICE – Commercial sales

     The Auto-Burglar gun was developed by the Ithaca Gun Company from their then-new “NID” shotgun action. The weapon was intended to give homeowners and travelers an efficient means to defend themselves during the 1902s and early 1930s. Derived from a standard shotgun, the Auto-Burglar has a sharply bent pistol grip in place of a standard stock as well as very short barrels. The design results in a very large and powerful handgun. To make the weapon more manageable when fired, it is chambered for the 20-gauge shotgun round.

   The design and caliber of the Auto-Burglar allows it to be fired one-handed by a strong individual, but the chance of injury from recoil or being struck by the barrels makes a two-handed hold almost a necessity. Concealed hammers automatically cock when the barrels are opened, streamlining the action considerably from earlier designs. A sliding safety switch is mounted on the top rear of the receiver tang, just behind the release lever for the barrels.

     This production model “whippet” gun came with a holster that could be strapped to the steering column of an automobile. The popularity of this style of weapon with the criminal class caused the National Firearms Act (NFA) to be put in place in 1934, ending the commercial market for such a weapon. Though the Auto-Burglar, as well as other weapons regulated by the NFA, can still be legally owned in a number of areas after extensive background checks and taxes are paid.