Ithaca 37 DS PS - opinions needed

[CLASSIC12]

I’ve wanted an Ithaca 37 for some time. Just found one for sale, DS PS (Deer Slayer Police Special) featherweight (that’s a lot of words for one shotgun).

It’s in satin nickel, and I prefer a more utilitarian parkerized look (I had a Win 1300 stainless marine and I traded it for a blued defender)

However whereas Winchesters are plentiful here in Switzerland, Ithacas are pretty scarce, so I’m hesitating to buy it anyway.

I’m sure plenty members are familiar with this shotguns, so opinions are welcomed. The gun for sale :

 

[squidsix]

Unless it is extremely overpriced, I would get that immediately. I have an Ithaca Police featherweight and it is an excellent shotgun and quite the sweet shooter. Mine is the old type “slam fire” version that will fire if you hold the trigger back and work the action, but thats not a feature I sought out.
It took some patterning to be happy with the sights, but in the end it was Federal 9 pellet OO-buck that shot best in mine.
I see them VERY rarely. Defenders are a dime a dozen here, but a satin nickel 37 PS is a rare bird.
Get it!!!

 

[Greyman50]

Have had M-37’s since the 70’s as they are All steel, no plastic. Easy to load and keep clean as load and eject is through the bottom. 8 shot riot versions are nice too. Nice one you have.

 

[chief38]

The M37 Featherweight is an EXCELLENT SD / HD shotgun! The only thing I am not thrilled about are the practice sessions with SD loads - the M37 has a kick to it.

 

[max]

I have a similar Ithaca in blue and I just bought a used 1200 and had the barrel cut to 22 inches. I would be all over that one.

 

[lamarw]

I ran across an auction a couple of years ago for three Ithaca 37 receivers with three barrels and numerous other components. I won the package for $67.00 and began enjoying myself. There were enough parts to almost complete one gun. Then I started buying parts off eBay. I also purchased one new unfinished wood stock and forend. Over time, I assembled three shotguns. One was an older model with a 26" barrel I consider a bird gun. The other two consist of a Deerslayer model with a 20" barrel and there is a D.S. Police model with an 18" barrel.

All total, I think I have about $600.00 invested in the three complete shotguns not including my fun hours of labor.

 

[gregintenn]

Being left handed, the 37 Ithaca is by far my favorite pump shotgun.

 

[waffles]

Ithaca 37s are cool. I had one of the parked riot guns that never ran right, but the others I shot did. I personally think the nickel is pretty ugly, and if I really wanted a parkerized one I'd hold out for one, as that wouldn't scratch my itch.

 

[WR Moore]

"Deer Slayer Police Special" seems a contradiction in terms. The Deer Slayer version of the model 37 was fitted with a specially bored (smaller than normal) barrel to improve accuracy with rifled slugs and came with 4 shot magazines. All those I ever saw in ads had rifle sights on them-OK, the item in the picture does. OTOH, short barreled versions of the model 37 with either standard or extended (like the one in the picture) magazines had long careers with many police departments, including LAPD. The finish suggests possible use with a harbor/marine unit. If the bore is less than the usual 0.730 inches (give or take a thousandth or two) by 0.010-0.015 in, you might have a very unique item there, most likely a special order item. If the bore diameter is that of a standard 12 gauge, then you have some creative or honestly mistaken labeling on the item.

The bottom ejection of the Ithaca is neat, but you have to operate the slide with vigor to make sure it works as intended.

Very occasionally, the ejection can become erratic. I fixed one that was a gift to someone (probably because it had ejection problems) and never figured out exactly what I did to solve the problem. I suspect that if you take the parts out of the receiver, it makes a real difference exactly how you put it back together. You might want to try before you buy.

 

[dave1918a2]

Around here a DSPS will sell between $800 and 1200 depending on condition. I think they are one of the best defense shotguns available. Bottom feed, hold the trigger and pump, good recoil with one ounce slugs. That one looks like it may have been hard chromed or some other finish like that. If You have the $, get it.

 

[just plain joe]

I carried a Model 37 Ithaca LAPD Model at my old address while working the road. It has a butter-smooth action and is utterly reliable. The bottom ejection was a big "plus" when shooting left-side barricade as there was reduced chance of an empty hull failing to clear the ejection port.

There was a learning curve however. Others in my agency carried the Remington 870P 12 gauge which was easier to "speed-feed" or transition from 00 Buck to 1 oz. slug.

I still have my LAPD Model and on occasion was glad that I had it with me when a call went sideways.

I also have my Ithaca Mag10 RoadBlocker 10 gauge with a 20" barrel. It is impressive how much lead can be put down-range with this platform.

I have no qualms recommending the Ithaca Model 37 to you.

HTH.

JPJ

 

[44wheelman]

That is an uncommon model you posted.

It was from an order for the LAPD that was cancelled. They were bought by a sporting goods chain & sold. I have seen them with both the sights and just a gold bead configuration. It is a buy. I loved mine, til my brother lost it for me.

 

[colt_saa]

A satin nickel Ithaca, I like the look of it.

The Model 37 has always been my favorite fighting shotgun. Being a bottom ejector you are not throwing empty shells at your partner no matter which side he ends up being on. Likewise you do not get het in the face with his shell casings, I do wish it had the longer magazine, but that is what was bought in the olden days

I also like that the 37 is a slam fire. You can provide some very effective cover fire with the gun.

When our agency got a new Director, he traded away all of out Ithacas for Remington 870s. Fortunately I was able to work out a deal to keep mine.

I have another 37 that is wearing a 1-4x scope. The entire rig has been ceracoated in camouflage. Unfortunatly I do not have an image of it

If the price is reasonable I would be all over that Ithaca. Now you have put me on the lookout for one of those satin Nickle versions


I do own one of the Winchester 1300 Marine Stainless shotguns. It has performed well but no longer sees duty onboard a watercraft. Mine was bought before the big change to the synthetic stocks. I keep it around the house.

I do own a Remington 870 with the folding Police stock. I hate shooting it, that is one of the worst stocks ever. I only keep it because it came to me from the Estate of a very high ranking member of FHPA's Command staff. It was his trunk gun

 

[Drm50]

Before rifled barrels Ithaca 37 was most accurate slug gun out of the box.
They run slick too, the last milled parts pump produced.
I wish I had kept a 8 shot riot model for social engineering tool.
The only minus on I-37 is that it’s doesn’t like handloads unless they are perfectly formed.

 

[RCL-09]

Great shotgun. I had mine cut down (legally) to a Stakeout barrel length about 13.5 inches and kept the full stock on it. Truly a great shotgun.

 

[Ματθιας]

That's a nice one!!! As you said Ithacas are rare where you are, an Ithaca like that is rare, here -it's a no brainer - buy it. At least you'll have one. If you don't like it, keep it until you find the one you want and trade for it.

If it were me, I'd be all over that and later bragging about how I now have a rarely seen Ithaca 37.

 

[Waldo]

I bought one, new, about 1975 or 76. Parkerized, 8 shot, rifle sights. I love it, it will be one of the last to go. The guy I got it from had an FFL and worked out of his house. He ordered it for me, but had no relationship with Ithaca. I am left handed and had heard that Ithaca made a left handed safety for it. This was long before the internet. So I wrote a letter to Ithaca and asked about a left handed safety and factory rubber butt plate. I said to tell me how much, and I would send a check. Several weeks later, I got a package from Ithaca with the parts I wanted and a bill. I was both pleased and surprised. I have several "Riot" type shotguns, and I think the Ithaca may be my favorite. I would definitely buy that shotgun, if I were you.

 

[alwslate]

I’ve owned a few Ithaca 37s and to me a 37 is a 37 regardless of the price raising bells and whistles. Bottom feed and ejection seems cool until you deal with it for awhile and then it gets a bit old in my opinion. I suggest you not pay big bucks for any 37 until you handle one a bit.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I bought a lot of riot guns when they were still cheap. The Ithaca 37's in any configuration are some of my favorites. I shoot shotguns lefthanded and they bottom eject) I've got most of them including the US marked Viet Nam model, Brushed nickel marine model, DS Police, Trench (paid $40.00 for it around 1972) model, and a few more. The Marine long tube lives by my bed. I think the five shot 37 riot gun is probably one of the best balanced shotguns around. The nickel Winny has a cool intimidation factor. All of the older 870's work. After about 1975 if you were a department that wanted the 37 slamfire feature you had to special order it. Before that most of them had it. I bought several long tube 37's cheap ($100 or a little more) that go for over $1,000 now. I quit buying and am satisfied with what I have now....unless I run into a deal.

 

[Murdock]

Just a bead on mine. I tried fitting rifle-type sights to it, but it just could not perform like a Deerslayer, since the bore is standard 12-gauge, lacking the tighter bore of the DS. Went back to the plain bead. Does just fine with 00 buck. I appreciate its businesslike simplicity.

I have 37s in 12, 16 and 20 gauge and always wanted a PS with the extended magazine. When I found this one at a gun show about 13 years ago I had a touch of buyer's remorse because I felt that I had paid too much at $325. Prices today? Wow.