How rare are the Red Pheasant Ithaca Model 37's

[gizamo]

Have only seen two in my lifetime, in 12 gauge. There are quite a few ultra featherlights in 20 gauge with the Red Grouse out there.

But I cannot find any info on a Red Pheasant model.

 

[s&wchad]

Didn't know anything about them, so I had to pull out my copy of Ithaca Featherlight Repeaters... The Best Guns Going by Walt Snyder.

The red caps were designed by Sid Bell, a silversmith specializing in precious metal wildlife carvings. They were introduced in 1978 and there were five of them; a buck head, a duck head with a large "40", a flying duck, a flying quail and a flying pheasant. They were put on different models showing their intended use (kinda like Garanimals). Some of the economy models didn't have the cap and Walt doesn't say when Ithaca dropped it, but Ithaca Acquisition took over in 1987.

 

[gizamo]

Thanks Chad,...

Mine is a deluxe model with the fleure de lis, white spacers, and upgraded forend grip. Never could figure the SN date as it is out of the block. Maybe these Red models had their own block of numbers.

 

[gizamo]

Just found this on the web. A little more about Sid Bell. Mine is not the one listed below, but it is interesting reading.

In 1977 the Ithaca Gun Company produced a Model 37 Commemorative which they called the SID BELL MODEL. Sid Bell was a renowned silver smith who produced wildlife carvings in precious metals. The gun was a Model 37 Deluxe Vent model with silver game figures attached to each side of the frame. The right side had three silver ducks and the left side a dog pointing at two rising pheasants. The grip cap contained a silver insert depicting a likeness of Lou Smith with a Model 37 over his shoulder. The guns were 12 gauges with a 28 inch vent ribbed barrel choked modified. The Sid Bell Model is probably one of the scarcer of the limited edition Model 37’s since only 213 guns were actually produced. They are truly a rare model.

 

[Rule3]

. They were put on different models showing their intended use (kinda like Garanimals) .

...........

 

[Andy Griffith]

That's very nice.

I've always liked the 37, but it just doesn't have the following around here like the model 12, and likely why values are kept reasonable here too.

I like it a lot!

Going to show some more pictures?

 

[SavageSmoker]

Sorry I don't know anything about that specific model. However, I have an Ithaca 37 16g feather weight that belonged to my grandfather, my dad, and now me. Don't know the production year but my Dad is71. It does have the engraved pheasant/foul images on each side and is all original. I was at Cabelas in Owatonna, MN browsing the used shotguns and found one exactly like mine for $999! I still use this gun today for pheasant hunting as I am a lefty and this is a bottom eject gun so it works great for me. This thread has made me want to do some more research on my gun. Good luck finding the answers you are looking for.

 

[gizamo]

Here Ya go, Andy...

I own a early Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge, soo I know what your saying.

Red Pheasant Model 37

 

[Texas Star]

I have a tie tac and a jewelry box with a rising trout after a fly from Sid Bell and he is/was a superlative maker of sporting jewelry and decorative items.

I think he also decorated some knives from Camillus.

The only wildlife jeweller whom I've found who did comparable work was George Harris and his brother, who usually produced pewter and gold-plated pewter pieces that were very lifelike. Alas, I think they're out of business. Not sure about Sid Bell.

Thanks for the info on the M-37's. I've always liked that model, although i've never owned one.

 

[2152hq]

Sid Bell died a few years back. His designs, masters and moulds have been bought up and are being offered by "Sid Bell Originals" in Pa.
The original shop in Tully, NY is closed AFAIK.

Sid was prevented from offering any silver castings as part of a divorce court order and lost possession of the masters and the moulds to them.
He was only allowed to produce new work and in pewter (and perhaps other semi-precious metal).
That ended when he died. What a way to punish a person.

I knew him a little and always found him to be helpfull and friendly. That wasn't always the case for others in the trade.

His method of carving the master figures was different from anyone elses, though he didn't think of it as so. Just saw it as the way to do it at the time. His was to stack layers of cut out sheet silver and solder them together. Only use enough as you need to create the figure, the rough piece looks somewhat like a topographical map,,which is where he said he got the idea.
From there he sculpted the final form and it was used as the master.

 

[bushmaster1313]

My version of a custom grip cap for a 37:

 

[Texas Star]

Sid Bell died a few years back. His designs, masters and moulds have been bought up and are being offered by "Sid Bell Originals" in Pa.
The original shop in Tully, NY is closed AFAIK.

Sid was prevented from offering any silver castings as part of a divorce court order and lost possession of the masters and the moulds to them.
He was only allowed to produce new work and in pewter (and perhaps other semi-precious metal).
That ended when he died. What a way to punish a person.

I knew him a little and always found him to be helpfull and friendly. That wasn't always the case for others in the trade.

His method of carving the master figures was different from anyone elses, though he didn't think of it as so. Just saw it as the way to do it at the time. His was to stack layers of cut out sheet silver and solder them together. Only use enough as you need to create the figure, the rough piece looks somewhat like a topographical map,,which is where he said he got the idea.
From there he sculpted the final form and it was used as the master.

Sorry to hear about Bell. I interviewed him for a magazine article many years ago, and he mentioned having attended high school here in Dallas, I think at the ancient Crozier Tech.

He was a master of his craft, and I can't imagine what prompted a divorce judge to stifle his career. In doing so, he hurt not only Sid Bell but all lovers of sophisticated widlife art.

 

[David LaPell]

My Ithaca isn't a Red Pheasant, but you don't often see Deluxe Deerslayers in 16 gauge, I have killed a few deer, a nice coyote and dozens of grouse with this gun over the last ten years.

 

[jkc]

Sid Bell died a few years back. His designs, masters and moulds have been bought up and are being offered by "Sid Bell Originals" in Pa.
The original shop in Tully, NY is closed AFAIK.

Sid was prevented from offering any silver castings as part of a divorce court order and lost possession of the masters and the moulds to them.
He was only allowed to produce new work and in pewter (and perhaps other semi-precious metal).
That ended when he died. What a way to punish a person.

I knew him a little and always found him to be helpfull and friendly. That wasn't always the case for others in the trade.

His method of carving the master figures was different from anyone elses, though he didn't think of it as so. Just saw it as the way to do it at the time. His was to stack layers of cut out sheet silver and solder them together. Only use enough as you need to create the figure, the rough piece looks somewhat like a topographical map,,which is where he said he got the idea.
From there he sculpted the final form and it was used as the master.

I've long since lost a chatty and freindly note Sid Bell sent me in reply to an inquiry I'd made about one or another of his silver applique embellishments -- it left me with the impression that I'd like the guy, had I met him in person....