Ithaca M-37. My 1st one.

[Engine49guy]

I have owned and shot Ithaca 37's for over 30 years,
Like the light weight and bottom load bottom eject,
Dislike the single carrier arm on the pump handle and actually had one break the weld years ago rendering it inoperative in the field.
Neutral on the slam fire feature, used to think it was great but can be dangerous for those not used to it.

Incidentally there was a parkerized Chinese copy made a few years ago that had dual carriers and was chambered in 3" Magnum , came with nylon stocks, longer mag tube, interchangeable pistol grip, heat shield and winged rear site for under $300 new.
Parts would swap with a regular 37 too but internals were rough and the quality was what you would expect from a cheap Chinese copy.

 

[Nedroe]

Here's Some of Mine.........

There are more around here somewhere

Ithaca's are one of the finest pump guns ever made.



Ned

 

[jimmyj]

I have owned two Ithaca Model 37 12 gauges.
1. Riots of 1968 I wanted a short barreled that I could carry back and forth to work (this was the beginning of 12-18 hour shifts) I purchased a Model 37 (Cheap) from a gunsmith and had him cut the 30 inch barrel to 18 inches. Testing it at the range I discovered that with #4 buckshot I could obtain a killing pattern on a B-27 Target at 100 yards !!!
A few months later one of the kids needed new school shoes, so I regrettable I sold it and kicked myself every since.

2. I had a High Standard 12 gauge Model ?? that came with an extended magazine (1976 ?) that a friend fell in love with for home defense. He traded me a new Ithaca Model 37 "Deerslayer"? 12 gauge that was AWESOME. Fool that I can be (most of the time)I traded it for a Remington Model 870 12 gauge.

 

[armorer951]

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

Thanks very much.

 

[Pbchucker]

The Ithica M37 featherlight was my first shotgun. 1975, maybe. Saved up money for months, and had to get my mother to sign for it. Rabbits squirrels and pheasants ended up on the dinner plate because of that shotgun. I wore out the part that held back the shell in the mag tube, and I got double feeds with a certain brand of shell that had a slightly smaller rim diameter.

Traded it off for something. Wish I would have ordered a new part and kept the gun.

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

I've read some about the 37 and hope to own one someday...hopefully an old one in 12 ga. Sorry for the problems you incurred but it seems it was worth it now...

It needed some caring love!

 

[DWalt]

I've neither owned nor even fired an Ithaca shotgun, but aesthetically I prefer the appearance of a Winchester Model 12.

 

[bushmaster1313]

About this I will not be humble.
I am the fortunate owner of one of the finest examples of the Ithaca Model 37 on the planet.
First year Ithaca 37T trap gun, Serial No. 813:

You may call these, My Three Ithacas:

 

[crsides]

My son just got married last week and the bride's grandfather brought along a 552 rem 22lr, a single bbl H&R, and a 20 ga mod 37. The stock has been cut on the 37 and some old rust on receiver, but otherwise nice. I'll look for an original length butt stock and it should fair well in the dove fields this fall for him. If you 37 was made prior to 1968, it may not have a serial number.

Charlie

 

[bushmaster1313]

If your 37 was made prior to 1968, it may not have a serial number.

Charlie

I do not think this is correct
All the early 37's I have seen had serial numbers on the front right face of the receiver.
From my 1937 example above:

Some of the pre-68 Mossbergs did not have a serial number

 

[model70hunter]

Actually
I enjoy basket cases. If I knew all of the issues I could have gotten into much lower.

I'd rather buy a basket case and fix it up than a NIB one. I do get satisfaction from restoration. Anyone, including me at times, can buy one and go shoot it. When it has some of your sweat in it the use of it seems better.

I've never seen many used ones for sale, a small shop has 2 under 300 but I fet their condition did not warrant it. One has a nasty crack in the stock. I would have bought it if he had met in the middle. He's waiting for the guy who will not notice it.

I've been reading all I can about Ithaca's trench gun and the Winchester 97/12 trench and riot guns. Like the old model 70 and 12's if it looks like the big rare one you'd better have your own expert with you. Trench guns are going through the roof like one poster said. In about 1974 I bought a 99% Win M-12 Riot US flaming pot and all. It actually looked new. I know this one was acquired by a fella who worked in a gov armory, nuff said.

After the war and into the 90's folks were buying 1903's and surplus M-12's and other guns and immediately sporterized them. I looked for a full choke bbl for mine, did not find one.

I have found many civilian M-12's and for the last few years had been looking for a 20" bbl front half in CYL to put on my M-12 for late night duty. All I find are priced at complete Mod/Full choke guns.

At the gun show after this I found a 20" complete front half from 1916 or 17 and got into around $100. I fit it to my receiver and the first pump the fore end and nut pulled loose. I pulled the wood and found the action slide was split from stem to stern on top at the thinnest point. Years ago someone drilled holes in it and bradded them. They failed. I found a new one at Hoosier PArts and it is now a working "riot" gun.

I bought one of the new High Standard clone riot guns so now I have a collection of 2 isn't that a riot?

Just for grins I'm now looking for a used Ithaca M-37 bbl, a rough cheap one, to cut to 20". I guess this is how collecting sickness starts, get one, find a 2nd and now it has to run the full course and no relief until the fever breaks.

I know there is specific SN that is the beak point for factory fitting and fitting your own bbl. Mine is a 1976 Ithaca M 37. Most bbls from about 1970 up are of the new type manufacture for interchangability.

WatchDog, Engine 49, I know you guys love the pics, I will take pics of the bubba screws and the after with new Ithaca parts in place. Too late for a before on the bbl. If you can imagine a hot sweaty bubba hand with a little blood on it gripping the bbl above the fore end and the resulting rust blisters. Also imagine a gun that has never been oiled.

Bubba also was an amateur proctologist. He left his marks on the butt too, he had tightened the pad until it broke at both screws. I'm thinking limbsaver.

The stock on my M12 Win from 1925 was cut down and has a rubber slip on pad. It has 2 old cracks in the wrist they are old cracks and oil filled, no epoxy fix here, not even with whiting. I've been using it that way for several years. I redid the receiver and it is now blue black and the old stock is going. I found a NIB NOS Sile Walnut set on fleabay and bought it. If you were one of the 20 or so watching, it's gone.
Original? No, more pleasing to the eye? Yes. But then it too was a minor basket case.

 

[CZU]

Actually
I know there is specific SN that is the beak point for factory fitting and fitting your own bbl. Mine is a 1976 Ithaca M 37. Most bbls from about 1970 up are of the new type manufacture for interchangability.

After serial number 855000 barrels should interchange, IIRC.

 

[jimmyj]

I have owned two Ithaca Model 37 12 gauges.
1. Riots of 1968 I wanted a short barreled that I could carry back and forth to work (this was the beginning of 12-18 hour shifts) I purchased a Model 37 (Cheap) from a gunsmith and had him cut the 30 inch barrel to 18 inches. Testing it at the range I discovered that with #4 buckshot I could obtain a killing pattern on a B-27 Target at 100 yards !!!
A few months later one of the kids needed new school shoes, so I regrettable I sold it and kicked myself every since.

2. I had a High Standard 12 gauge Model ?? that came with an extended magazine (1976 ?) that a friend fell in love with for home defense. He traded me a new Ithaca Model 37 "Deerslayer"? 12 gauge that was AWESOME. Fool that I can be (most of the time)I traded it for a Remington Model 870 12 gauge.

CORRECTION: while looking for my Winchester Model 97 I discovered a forgotten Ithaca Model 37 12 gauge #344611 28 inch barrel with a Poly Choke

 

[CZU]

About this I will not be humble.
I am the fortunate owner of one of the finest examples of the Ithaca Model 37 on the planet.
First year Ithaca 37T trap gun, Serial No. 813:

That can't be the original butt pad, looks too good to be pushin' 80. Pretty shotgun, my 1949 37S 16ga Skeet wouldn't mind it's company in the safe.

 

[model70hunter]

CORRECTION: while looking for my Winchester Model 97 I discovered a forgotten Ithaca Model 37 12 gauge #344611 28 inch barrel with a Poly Choke

The SN is too low. I see Ithaca bbls on ebay starting at $100. Might be a good place to sell it, or even here if someone had an older one that wanted to make a riot gun.

 

[bushmaster1313]

About this I will not be humble.
I am the fortunate owner of one of the finest examples of the Ithaca Model 37 on the planet.
First year Ithaca 37T trap gun, Serial No. 813:

That can't be the original butt pad, looks too good to be pushin' 80. Pretty shotgun, my 1949 37S 16ga Skeet wouldn't mind it's company in the safe.

It is a new old stock pad expertly fitted by Frank Valone at Sycamore Hill Designs. He is a gun stock and Ithaca expert and I had it sent from the Gunbroker seller directly to Frank to give it a stock and function check. He said the old pad was crumbling away and needed to be replaced. All I did to wood finish was to rub in a little raw walnut oil. Walnut oil looks good, and if there is any left over you can put it on your salad.

Note, Frank Conley, author of The American Single Barrel Trap Gun, was careful in his book to avoid pictures of recoil pads. They are sort of like tires on a classic car. Which would you rather on your 1962 Shelby Cobra, the original rubber or a new set of Goodyears.

 

[bushmaster1313]

After serial number 855000 barrels should interchange, IIRC.

On earlier guns you can send the receiver to the New Ithaca company in Sandusky Ohio. They can make an old receiver accept post 850,000 interchangeable barrels, but the trade off is that the old original barrel will no longer fit.

 

[Engine49guy]

On the subject of barrels I would mention that another great feature of the Model 37 is its quick release barrel.

On the down side the mag tube cannot be extended on the 37 like it can be on the 870, also no top folding stock was ever offered that is similar to the Remington 870's ...at least none that I am aware of ...




Aftermarket Ithaca 37 side folding stocks are out there but are few and far between.

 

[Buford57]

In the past 4 or 5 years I have fulfilled my longstanding lust for a M37 by buying a 1942-vintage 16 and a 1952 12. I had always thought the post-war ringed forearm was the original type until I encountered the beautifully checkered wood on the 16. Both (at different times) on consignment at the same local shop. I forget which was which, but paid $200 for one and $250 for the other.

You will enjoy your rescue project, I am sure.

 

[RichCapeCod]

The Ithaca model 37 made a wonderful combat shotgun. I carried a 13” barrel version (made in-house by the NYPD) when assigned Bronx Central Robbery (we went after heavily armed robbery teams). Both the 13” and 20” versions we used had open rifle sights. The 20” had a full sling and the 13” had a safety strap covering the operating handle to keep officers hands away from the muzzle of the short barrel. I put slugs in mine.

Rich



Our unit used Ruger Mini-14s also.