The Model 87 Ultra Special: A Rare Survivor of Ithaca’s Final Gamble
The history of American firearms manufacturing is filled with stories of innovation and struggle, but few are as enigmatic as that of the Ithaca Model 87 Ultra Special. In the late 1980s, Ithaca Armory—a name synonymous with rugged pump-action shotguns—was fighting for its survival against industry giants like Remington and Mossberg. The Ultra Special represents a desperate, high-tech attempt to modernize their lineup and secure lucrative law-enforcement contracts. For collectors and defenders of the Second Amendment, understanding the origins of these rare prototypes provides a window into the final days of a legendary FFL dealer manufacturer.
The Decline of Ithaca Armory and the Need for Innovation
By 1990, Ithaca was in a state of financial hemorrhaging. The company had endured multiple buyouts and bankruptcies, leaving only a skeleton crew operating out of an abandoned facility using the same machinery that once produced M111s and trench guns during World War II. To stay afloat, leadership looked toward the law enforcement market, which had previously supported them. In 1981, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) purchased 1,000 Ithaca Model 87 shotguns for $850,000, but the market was shifting. Ithaca needed to replace their aging inventories with something modern, lighter, and more capable.
The Technical Engineering of the Ultra Special
The Model 87 Ultra Special was the result of a “proof-of-concept” program designed to revolutionize the platform. Unlike the heavy steel receivers found on standard Model 87s, these prototypes were carved from aircraft-grade aluminum blocks. This resulted in a staggering weight reduction; while standard Model 87s of that era weighed approximately 7.5 pounds, the Ultra Specials weighed an astonishing 6.2 pounds. These guns were chambered specifically for 3-inch shotshells but were robust enough to handle the rigors of magnum rounds.
The aesthetics of the Ultra Special were purely utilitarian. They featured a tactical Parkerized finish, flat-black synthetic furniture, and an extended magazine tube. It looked far from the traditional polished walnut and blued steel of the classic Deerslayer. For a buyer looking to browse firearms, the Ultra Special represents a lost tactical evolution that was decades ahead of its time.
A Ghost in the Production Records
Researching the Ultra Special is a difficult task for most firearms historians because Ithaca records between 1985 and 2005 were either destroyed or submitted to the ATF, where they remain inaccessible to the public. However, serial-number data suggests that only six units were ever produced. The breakdown of these rare survivors is as follows:
- Two test guns
- One electroless-plated gun
- One Parkerized gun with an anodized receiver
- Three final Parkerized guns
It is widely believed that the LAPD canceled the evaluation midstream, perhaps getting cold feet over Ithaca’s obvious instability. This rejection hit the struggling manufacturer like a front kick to the solar plexus. Because they were never intended for retail sale, they have no inventory numbers or SKU identifiers in any standard database. The mere existence of the Model 87 Ultra Special remains a testament to what “could have been” for Ithaca.
The Legacy of a Rare Survivor
How one of these ultra-rare prototypes ended up in a local retail sporting goods store remains a point of debate. One account suggests a unit was intended for a California law-enforcement agency but was shipped by mistake. For the owner who stumbled upon it, BT Gun Company enthusiasts would have found a piece of history they didn’t know existed. While Ithaca eventually ceased production, the legacy of the Ultra Special lives on in the hands of the few who appreciate the final gasp of American engineering.
For those interested in the evolution of the shotgun and the latest industry trends, keeping an eye on BT Gun Company is a licensed FFL dealer in Rubicon, Wisconsin. See FFL transfer pricing, learn how buying a gun online works, or shop firearms, ammo and gear.Buying or transferring a firearm?