Ithaca Unveils the Larrabee Shotgun

The Ithaca Gun Co. is going back to the future with the new Larrabee 12-gauge shotgun. Those familiar with Ithaca’s classic Knickerbocker trap gun will instantly recognize the Larrabee’s inspiration.

The Knickerbocker originated in 1922 and enjoyed more than a 50-year run before it was discontinued in the 1970s. Mike Farrell of Ithaca said the Larrabee is named after the company’s head machinist, Roger Larrabee, who reverse-engineered one of the original Knickerbocker guns for this reintroduction. The original single-barrel trap gun was as renown as the ATA and Stephen Grant shotguns for many years.

The Larrabee will be available in four grades, and in 28-, 30-, 32- and 34-inch barrels. Farrell said Ithaca also plans to make 11 Sousa-grade guns because the company made 11 Sousa-grade Knickerbockers in 1922.

The Larrabee guns are scheduled to start shipping in March. Ithaca also plans to do a 20-gauge Larrabee in the future.

Patrick Durkin

Patrick Durkin of Waupaca, Wisconsin, is a longtime outdoor writer, editor and newspaper columnist. He is a contributing writer and editor for the Archery Trade Association; and his articles appear frequently in American Hunter, Archery Business, Predator Xtreme and Quality Whitetails magazines. His award-winning weekly newspaper column appears in the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Wisconsin Outdoor News, Wisconsin State Journal, Oshkosh Northwestern, Watertown Daily Times, Ladysmith News, Bloomer Advance, Chetek Alert and Barron News Shield.