Ithaca 10 Gauge "RoadBlocker"

[granpas gotagun]

I did a thread about “guns you wish you had bought back in the day”. That is definitely one of them for me.

Did you ever shoot one of them? One of the 2 threads that led me here had a commentor that mentioned they had last seen 2 "Roadblockers" for sale in a pawn shop in San Antonio for 2500 each in 2005. That may have been on your thread.

 

[granpas gotagun]

One nearly identical to yours sold a couple of weeks ago. There was plenty of bidding so I think the sales price is worth taking seriously.

View attachment 311785

Ben, can you tell me how you search the "ended" listings on GB. All I can run are "current" listings. Even when I look in advance search, I dont see a drop down for "ended" I would like to see the listing on your screenshot. thanks again for all of the info and help!

 

[HKSig]

Obviously that's not the case for all guns.

I'll let you look at all guns and figure that out. The historical values went back 6 years.

 

[benenglish]

Ben, can you tell me how you search the "ended" listings on GB. All I can run are "current" listings. Even when I look in advance search, I dont see a drop down for "ended" I would like to see the listing on your screenshot. thanks again for all of the info and help!

First, IIRC completed sales aren't available unless you're logged in.

So -

• Log in.
• Click "Advanced" next to the Search button.
• On the Advanced page, select the "Completed Items" folder tab at the top of the search fields.
• Fill in the search fields as you see fit.
• Click "Search."
• Get results.

In your case, I just put "Roadblocker" in the "Search Words" field and got 3 results. Only one was comparable to yours. In fact, it's only about 300 serial numbers away from yours so I'm guessing they're identical except for condition. And the condition looked about the same.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I'll let you look at all guns and figure that out. The historical values went back 6 years.

Just talking from experience in values of my shotgun mentioned earlier.

 

[Tex929rr]

Did you ever shoot one of them? One of the 2 threads that led me here had a commentor that mentioned they had last seen 2 "Roadblockers" for sale in a pawn shop in San Antonio for 2500 each in 2005. That may have been on your thread.

No, but I’ll bet it’s exciting.

 

[granpas gotagun]

First, IIRC completed sales aren't available unless you're logged in.

So -

• Log in.
• Click "Advanced" next to the Search button.
• On the Advanced page, select the "Completed Items" folder tab at the top of the search fields.
• Fill in the search fields as you see fit.
• Click "Search."
• Get results.

In your case, I just put "Roadblocker" in the "Search Words" field and got 3 results. Only one was comparable to yours. In fact, it's only about 300 serial numbers away from yours so I'm guessing they're identical except for condition. And the condition looked about the same.

wow, thats certainly a great tip. I appreciate your sharing that!

 

[granpas gotagun]

No, but I’ll bet it’s exciting.

I guessing that its likely pretty painful too. In one of the blurbs I ran into in my search for info was a comment that was along the lines of "the reason the Roadblocker only held 2 rds in the mag and 1 in the chamber was because that was all a shooter could stand to shoot..."

 

[baboon]

I remember wanting one back in the day. Recoil & price of gun & ammo prevented it. Same as for most LEO agencies.

 

[granpas gotagun]

I remember wanting one back in the day. Recoil & price of gun & ammo prevented it. Same as for most LEO agencies.

I suspect that the recoil you mention and maybe the fact that it only held 3 rounds was definitely contributory to the demise of the "Roadblocker" . what I found in the DOJ abstract link in my initial post. "ONE ADVANTAGE IS ITS MASSIVE SHOCK POWER, WITH FIRE POWER BEING GREATEST IN SHORT-DURATION, SINGLE OPPONENT GUNFIGHTS. EACH SHOT FIRED REPRESENTS THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO 12-GAUGE SHELLS LOADED WITH THE SAME TYPE OF BUCKSHOT, WITH ONLY A RELATIVELY SMALL INCREASE IN RECOIL AND MUZZLE JUMP. THE MAG-10 HAS 162 PELLETS AVAILABLE IN 3 SHOTS, WHILE THE STANDARD 12-GUAGE POLICE SHOTGUN HAS ONLY 135 HITS POSSIBLE WITH 5 PULLS OF THE TRIGGER. TESTS ARE REPORTED TO SHOW THE GUN TO BE EXTREMELY RELIABLE. SHORTCOMINGS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ITS HEAVINESS AND BULKINESS, TOGETHER WITH ITS SUBSTANTIAL RECOIL. IT IS SLOW TO RELOAD, AND IT LACKS VERSATILITY. STILL, WITHIN ITS LIMITATIONS, THE GUN IS RECOMMENDED AS A SPECIAL PURPOSE POLICE WEAPON."

 

[baboon]

I suspect that the recoil you mention and maybe the fact that it only held 3 rounds was definitely contributory to the demise of the "Roadblocker" . what I found in the DOJ abstract link in my initial post. "ONE ADVANTAGE IS ITS MASSIVE SHOCK POWER, WITH FIRE POWER BEING GREATEST IN SHORT-DURATION, SINGLE OPPONENT GUNFIGHTS. EACH SHOT FIRED REPRESENTS THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO 12-GAUGE SHELLS LOADED WITH THE SAME TYPE OF BUCKSHOT, WITH ONLY A RELATIVELY SMALL INCREASE IN RECOIL AND MUZZLE JUMP. THE MAG-10 HAS 162 PELLETS AVAILABLE IN 3 SHOTS, WHILE THE STANDARD 12-GUAGE POLICE SHOTGUN HAS ONLY 135 HITS POSSIBLE WITH 5 PULLS OF THE TRIGGER. TESTS ARE REPORTED TO SHOW THE GUN TO BE EXTREMELY RELIABLE. SHORTCOMINGS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ITS HEAVINESS AND BULKINESS, TOGETHER WITH ITS SUBSTANTIAL RECOIL. IT IS SLOW TO RELOAD, AND IT LACKS VERSATILITY. STILL, WITHIN ITS LIMITATIONS, THE GUN IS RECOMMENDED AS A SPECIAL PURPOSE POLICE WEAPON."

Just look at the abortions that pass as shotguns these days. Wonder why Benelli hasn’t built a 10 gauge shotgun?

 

[candcallen]

Thanks Ben. Hoping to hear from some LE folks that actually used the "Roadblocker".

As far as I know no one In AZ ever issued a 10 gage. Never seen one in an LEO related museum's either.

My experience was all AZ.

 

[billtool]

Just got an Ithaca 10 gauge out of a safe where its been hidden in a corner for some 30+ years. I started trying to figure out just what kind of shotgun it was and I ended up here on TGT on a post made by Sargent69(hope hes still around) from back in October 2017. His post and others contributions provided enough info to point me in what the right direction to look for Ithaca "RoadBlocker" in my online searches. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-l...as-roadblocker-special-purpose-police-shotgun

From what Ive been able to glean online, this LE model Ithaca is one of the more rare/scarce variant 10 gauge shotguns. I have not been unable to find any recent sales other than 2 auctions that ranged from 3000$ to 5000$, with 5000$ being a variant almost NIB in original box. I would appreciate any other insights anyone may have, especially to current valuation and scarcity. The 2017 thread had top end around 2500$.

As far as condition, in my opinion, overall it appears to be in good to very good condition with normal dings on wood and finish with a bright clean bore on a gun that likely saw service use but likely not fired all that much. I have not cleaned or oiled it.

Ive included some pictures that I hope helps in positively identifying both the gun and condition - Ithaca Model MAG-10, FOR 3 1/2 IN,100035627 - ( a vertical mark like a 1?),

View attachment 311768

Good Night! I bet that gun kicks like a Missouri mule. Range report?

 

[granpas gotagun]

Good Night! I bet that gun kicks like a Missouri mule. Range report?

Sadly, I haven't found anyone that has shot one. I am too chicken and I have a box of blanks and a box of 84 pellet rds. I guess the blanks might not hurt too bad. I did see a blurb online where the HP had a joke that you could turn a Volkswagon Bug over in 3 shots.

 

[granpas gotagun]

As far as I know no one In AZ ever issued a 10 gage. Never seen one in an LEO related museum's either.

My experience was all AZ.

Thanks for that added information, From what limited info Ive seen so far and based on the name, it may be that the HP had more of them than the townies.. Ive checked with one LEO that goes back to the 70s and he hadn't ever seen one either. I dont remember seeing one at the Texas Ranger Museum but may have missed it. They had every other kind of rifle, pistol and shotgun there. As rare/scarce as the Roadblocker10 gauge seems to be, one certainly belongs in a museum just based on the DOJ Bulletin I found. Hopefully, we can hear from an HP that has ran one.

 

[Tex929rr]

IIRC they only held two rounds in the magazine.

 

[granpas gotagun]

IIRC they only held two rounds in the magazine.

Yes sir, this holds 2 in the tube and 1 in the chamber.

 

[pbratton]

I always take that source with a big grain of salt. I once put a very worn pistol directly into the hands of Mr. Fjestad and he looked it up and promptly valued it at double the highest grade price in his own book. He told me that the modifications done clearly meant it had been used in high-level international competition and that his valuation was just a starting point. If I could figure out the exact shooter who previously owned it and tried to get to the Olympics with it, the high-side potential for the price was very high, indeed.

When it comes to valuing guns, guide books are very rough starting points. Actual completed sales on Gunbroker are better if you can find something perfectly comparable. Beyond that, it's guesswork and the gut feelings of folks who have seen a lot of that type of firearm.

In short, appraising even mildly uncommon guns is some sort of magic and I don't pretend to know how it works.

It is simply a starting point to examine the value of a firearm.Cost is relative and is tightly linked with the 'want' factor.

 

[candcallen]

Some Arab police shooting their 10 gages ....




Just kidding

 

[granpas gotagun]

Some Arab police shooting their 10 gages ....




Just kidding

Kinda how I imagine shooting a Roadblocker is....dang.