Ithaca M-37. My 1st one.

[model70hunter]

I've been a Winchester guy forever. I like Benelli's for autos. I have a Super Black Eagle in 12 and a 20 Montefeltro. For a long time I had Parkers and AH Foxes for birds.

I've had a small Win M-12 collection and lots of them.

I'd heard about the Ithaca M 37 but never knew anyone who owned one.

A a gun show about 6 weeks ago I found one cheap, I've seen used ones in gun shops but not cheap. I had a Mossberg 20 and offered it straight up in trade. I should have known something was not right by the way he ripped the little 20 out of my hand and stuck the Ithaca 12 in it.

I get it home and clean it up, I decided to see how many rounds it held with some dummy cartridges, counting me it held 1 dummy cartridge. Boy i felt foolish, no magazine spring. I ordered one from Ithaca, installed it and a magazine plug. As of yet I had not tried to insert a shell.

I'd read the 37 is supposed to be a smooth action, it wasn't. I took it to the farm to shoot it. Could not load it, the shell lifter was not moving. I did a little twist and got one in the chamber. It looks like a 30" full choke, it drilled a piece of tin.

If you get bored on my getting skunked gun go ahead and leave. If you like misery hang on.

I pulled the non-factory pad to pull the parts out the rear to trouble shoot. The parts fell out on their own.

right now the idea of trading a beautiful and wonderful Mossberg 20 that I had $100 in made me wish I could undo the trade. Years ago I actively searched for these kind of guns so I could fix them up and trade up. It's been so long since I've been snookered in a trade that Reagan was still Gov of California.

So I have these pieces. The one that holds the shells in the tube was frozen and the only one I had to take out.

I cleaned it inside, added new oil and put it back together, dang it's smooth. I took it to the farm and shot it 5 times, smooth, no issues and that full choke pattern is tight. I think I've found an old time turkey gun for this spring. It's a 2 3/4" gun but it is so tight I'm afraid all pellets will go through the turkeys pupil.

Brought it home and sanded down the bubba kill notches on the bbl. I think he may have killed one rabbit or perhaps one possum as there wasn't much blood marks. Cold blued the sanded down areas and it got close to the faded 1976 blue.

I knew bubba had owned this gun, all screws were removed with what looked like a Colonial jack knife but no scratches on the action. I don't know how he missed it. Both of the lock screws were missing.I had not called Ithaca to order until I was sure no more were needed. Oh yeah bubba and his no oil thing had turned the magazine cap with channel locks or perhaps a vise grip to open it. Today I ordered all new screws and a magazine cap nut.

A few weeks ago when I ordered the magazine spring I asked a couple of questions mentioning I had bought bubbas gun and may need more parts. When he asked my phone number to look me up I heard him say, hey the guy that bought bubbas gun is calling back to order stuff. It's nice to be remembered.

Tonight, the little darling pumps smooth, it can be loaded and fired, It is rust free, it is blue, it is waiting on the new screws and cap. Bubba where ever you are , eat your heart out for I turned your sows ear shade tree gunsmithing job back into a silky smooth shotgun. And no you can't borrow it to go kill a mess of Armadillo's for dinner.

 

[Texas Star]

It was worth restoring.

But avoid armadillos. They can carry leprosy. Really.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Model 37's can be had in excellent condition for $200-$300

You had a bit of an adventure

Glad it worked out

 

[Hapworth]

Every collection (accumulation) probably needs one troublemaker; does you good staring it down, and all the more satisfying when it behaves.

Good job.

 

[Watchdog]

 

[jack the toad]

Many moon ago, I had a featherlite M37 in 16 ga. that kicked like the proverbial mule. OK gun (single action bar) but I don't miss it.

 

[smith17]

I just returned from a visit with my uncle who is the outdoors guy in the family. Around 80 yrs young now but still sharp. I listened to stories for a full day and most centered around dove hunting in Mexico and South America back in the 60s and 70s. I asked him what gun he used, fully expecting him to pull out a couple of side by sides or other semi-exotic guns. He returned with 3 pumps, all Ithaca 37s from various decades. He said he was shooting when his friends were cleaning their autos.

 

[Engine49guy]

Congrats on your first Model 37,
be warned they tend to multiply especially if you can find a decent Military version, PD long tube or Deer Slayer under $500.
These are not mine but I do have a few...

 

[tops]

I always preferred the M37 over the M12 because they were a lot lighter. I thought they were as slick as the M12 and they also didn't have a disconnector. I will admit that they would kick your eye teeth out but I stayed away from them thar high brass shells. Larry

 

[Drm50]

The 37 Ithaca was a design off the Rem 10. All in all a good gun,
the barrel off a 37 used to be worth more than a Mossberg pump.
The only thing with the 37 is it is not best gun for hand loaders.
Ithaca dropped 37 and came out with 87. Just like Rem with
1100 & 1187 didn't go over so well. I to was raised on Win 12s
and Brn A-5s. From time to time some one would bring in the odd
gun, but a Mossberg would have meant expulsion from the family. The 37 is one of the classic shotguns, the last good pump
to go under.

 

[armorer951]

Our PD had a bunch of these in 12 gauge when I was hired back in the 70's. First thing I noticed was the recoil using deer slugs! Wow

Always thought they were dangerous because they will fire when the bolt closes if the trigger is held back.

Still have my dad's model 37 in 20 gauge....I believe it's called the "Featherlight". Always thought this one was weird because there is no ser# on the receiver that I can find.....only on the barrel. Anybody have more info regarding the possible serial number location? I may have just missed it. thanks

 

[Florida J Frame]

The 37 Ithaca was a design off the Rem 10. All in all a good gun,
the barrel off a 37 used to be worth more than a Mossberg pump.
The only thing with the 37 is it is not best gun for hand loaders.
Ithaca dropped 37 and came out with 87. Just like Rem with
1100 & 1187 didn't go over so well. I to was raised on Win 12s
and Brn A-5s. From time to time some one would bring in the odd
gun, but a Mossberg would have meant expulsion from the family. The 37 is one of the classic shotguns, the last good pump
to go under.

The Model 37 is still available new direct from Ithaca Gun Co.

 

[Drm50]

Yes, it's still available, but that is not the original Ithaca Co.
Remington bought Ithaca and sold off 37 and Trademark. Guns
now being produced here in Ohio. Have not shot one but have herd good reports. Only complaint I hear is high price. There are
lots of originals on used market, nice one can be found in 12 &16
for about half of the price of t he new remake. 20g guns are a little harder to find, and bring a little more. Prices on used 37s
are about equal to Win. M-12s. Which have fallen, unless collector grade. New generation goes for plastic and taticool
shotguns, us old timers who know what a good gun is are dying
off, so is the market for shooter grades in these fine old shotguns. I was at a auction recently, where a nice M-12 went
for $375, the next gun up was a Moss/ camo pump, it went for
$450. That's how things are today with young crowd.

 

[CZU]

Always thought this one was weird because there is no ser# on the receiver that I can find.....only on the barrel. Anybody have more info regarding the possible serial number location? I may have just missed it. thanks

Look at the front edge of receiver right side. It's easy to miss.

 

[cardguy]

Sweet memories I have of deer hunting in western Iowa years ago with my 12 guage Deerslayer. So accurate with Remington 2 3/4 slugs. I sold the gun years ago and my hunting buddy died last year. We hunted all of Guthrie county we could. Time marches on however. Such is life.

 

[Watchdog]

I always preferred the M37 over the M12 because they were a lot lighter. I thought they were as slick as the M12 and they also didn't have a disconnector.

For me, the only thing the 37 has going for it over the Model 12 is the bottom ejection. Other than that, I prefer the more solid heft of the Model 12. And a little extra weight will damp down the recoil a tad. Even so, with 00 or slugs, you gotta have that stock firmly into your shoulder...don't even give either one of them room to kick harder.

 

[Watchdog]

...be warned they tend to multiply especially if you can find a decent Military version...

I'm seeing even not-so-decent military models going for $2K-plus now. They keep that up, they'll start matching prices for really decent Model 12 Trench Guns and authentic Model 97 Trench Guns. Then some unscrupulous guys will start making fake 37s decked out with phony war time hardware...if they aren't already. Especially if there's a hint the gun saw action in Vietnam.

 

[DWalt]

The main advantage of bottom ejection is for use by southpaws.

 

[Texas Star]

The 37 Ithaca was a design off the Rem 10. All in all a good gun,
the barrel off a 37 used to be worth more than a Mossberg pump.
The only thing with the 37 is it is not best gun for hand loaders.
Ithaca dropped 37 and came out with 87. Just like Rem with
1100 & 1187 didn't go over so well. I to was raised on Win 12s
and Brn A-5s. From time to time some one would bring in the odd
gun, but a Mossberg would have meant expulsion from the family. The 37 is one of the classic shotguns, the last good pump
to go under.

Actually, it was spun off from the Remington M-17, not the M-10. Lou Smith at Ithaca picked up the basic gun when Remington patents expired. By then, Rem. was making the M-31.

This was from Col. Chas. Askins and is, I believe, repeated in Keith's, Shotguns, of which I have the revised edition. A VERY good basic shotgun book, as is the one from Jack O'Connor.

 

[Drm50]

The 17 is a updated 10.