If you’ve recently come across an Ithaca Model 49, you’ve found one of the most popular "first rifles" in American history. Produced between 1960 and 1979
The rifle features a falling-block, single-shot action, disguised under a non-functioning lever. To load, you press a button on the left side of the receiver, swing the lever down (which cocks the internal striker), insert a .22 short, long, or long rifle cartridge, and then close the lever. It is not a true repeater, which adds to its safety as a trainer. ithaca model 49 serial number lookup portable
For collectors, history buffs, and nostalgic plinkers, few rifles evoke the spirit of mid-20th-century American firearms design quite like the Ithaca Model 49. Commonly known as the "Saddle Gun" due to its likeness to a miniature lever-action rifle, this single-shot .22 caliber firearm holds a unique place in Ithaca Gun Company history. However, unlike mass-produced firearms from Winchester or Remington, dating an Ithaca Model 49 can be surprisingly difficult. Why? Because Ithaca’s original records were partially lost, destroyed, or never transferred to digital formats. If you’ve recently come across an Ithaca Model
: Firearms Guide maintains a searchable database for Ithaca firearms manufactured between 1880 and 1986 . It is not a true repeater, which adds
. While exact serial number databases for this specific model are notoriously difficult to find due to record gaps, you can determine its general age using the following production history and identification markers. Quick Production Timeline 1960–1968: Most early models were not serialized
Before attempting a digital or manual look-up, you must first inspect your rifle to determine if it even possesses a serial number. The production window of the Model 49 is split into two distinct eras by federal legislation.
There are several resources available to help you look up the serial number of your Ithaca Model 49: