Ithaca M37 Riot Shotgun

[jimmyj]

Winchester Model 97 and Model 12, Remington Model 10, Model 31 , and Ithaca Model 37 (older ones) do not have a automatic disconnector. Therefore they will continue to fire as long as the trigger is held back and there is shells in the magazine. This is in the design feature and not a malfunction of the weapon.

 

[Glashaus]

Yep, don't hold the trigger unless you want it to go boom.

M37's are great shotguns. I am lucky to have an ex Mississippi Highway Patrol M37 riot that is in the same serial number range as the US Vietnam Contract



A long time ago I owned a M37 DSPS, really nice shotguns

 

[SG-688]

Ithaca has a serial number production list online for those wanting to date their shotguns.
Serial Numbers - Ithaca Gun Co.

This oops from Adam 12 is always fun.

 

[peter-paul]

The prices on most guns in general are nuts. This is a new in the box High standard riot king, with original box and paperwork from 1971. I got it in January for 400 dollars.

You can't find it's like now for less than 800. Smoothest action ever, and takes 6 + 1.

I hope all of these new gun owners are joining the NRA.

 

[2152hq]

I like the 37. I have only one a 37R (solid rib) 12ga Mod from 1948.
Nice shooter for Skeet.

They have a couple of quirks,
If you reload and shoot them,,a single errant BB can put the gun out of service. A pellet getting loose from a less than perfect reload can pin=ball it's way down into the trigger group.
There's a perfectly angled channel underneath the trigger to give it clearence for movement.
When the trigger is pulled to fire the gun, one of those loose BB's will rolls right down that channel and jam the trigger in the 'pulled' position.
The shooter then ejects the round he/she just fired and closes the action on a fresh round and 'bang' the new round fires....the trigger is held back.

It takes a full disassembly to remove the pellet and get it back working again.

I've seen it happen at least 6 times with the M37. Always with reloads.

Another thing the M37 is sometimes apt to do is release the bolt from the op-rod.
If the action is open,,and the gun is placed butt down on the ground or floor and then for some reason the person/shooter takes the gun and raps the gun sharply on the ground (with the action open),,the op-rod will disengage from the bolt slide&bolt.

It's easy enough to put back together. The spring loaded cross pin is easily seen on the bolt slide when you look at the underside of the action when closed. You take your thumb-nail and pull the cross pin under spring pressure to the side and pull the op-rod back into place. Then release the cross-pin.

Why some of them seem to be able to release the op-rod from the bolt/bolt slide? Just enough taper to the cross pin along with the right amt of slack in the fit-up perhaps.
I don't know.
But it's a surprising look on the face of the shooter when they have a pump slide in hand that works easily back and forth but nothing on the gun responds to it.



We had a local Village PD that carried M37 riot shotguns in the trunks of their cars. This was many yrs ago.
Very little to no maint on the guns.

A call to a violent domestic call one early Sunday AM in the winter. Man armed w/a handgun.
The only 2 Officers on duty responded. They called All Set in a very few minutes after on scene and then one said he'd
be calling me.
Ok I thought,,maybe for times or other compliantants, ect.

When he called he said did anyone call about the gun shot?
I said no,,no one called about any gunshots. Did the guy with the handgun take a shot at you or someone?
He said no,,when he got there, he got the Ithaca out of the trunk of the Patrol Car,,chambered a round and blew a big hole in the ice in the sidewalk.
He said he gently put the shotgun back in the trunk w/o racking the action and closed the trunk!
He said I will never trust one of those again,,ever.
No one ever called about the gun shot..

The man w/a gun at the call was sleeping,,no gun,,wife didn't want the police there,,no fight. Code 40. (Services Rendered).
The M37 left for the PD Armorer (Day Shift Sgt) to 'Clean & Service'

 

[bushmaster1313]

I am lucky to own the great-granddaddy of all Ithaca 37's. A 3-digit 37T. One of the first 37's made back in 1937 and one of the few remaining pre-WWII Ithaca 37 trap guns. The recoil pad is new.
Enjoy:

 

[Echo40]

I always wanted an Ithaca Model 37, particularly the "Stakeout" model, but prices as well as the fact that it's an NFA Item kept me from getting one.

Then Mossberg came out with the 590 Shockwave and I was all over that.

At the time that I purchased it (December 2018) they were in extremely high demand, so I ended up having to special order it and ended up paying somewhere north of $400 OTD, but it was worth it to me.

In the past I had avoided getting a full-size 12 Gauge due to concerns regarding where it could be stored safely yet still be readily accessible, not to mention concerns regarding maneuverability inside the relatively cramped quarters of the hallway/stairwell, but the Shockwave solved both issues at once.
Previously I had settled on the Taurus Judge Magnum due to it being the closest thing to a small shotgun that I could legally own.

Not nearly as bad as some folks seem to think, but it ain't no 12 Gauge.

 

[bummer]

Were did you get the recoil pad from? Ithaca in Ohio or another place

 

[Murdock]

Nice one, Bushmaster. My skeet grade is not quite so fancy, or well maintained, but I couldn't resist it. It's a 1948.

 

[jack the toad]

My father-n-law was an avid upland game hunter that liked the model 37, especially in 16 ga. This old song was also a favorite of his and makes me think of him whenever it's played.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCIw6QCmaJ8[/ame]

 

[bushmaster1313]

Were did you get the recoil pad from? Ithaca in Ohio or another place

Gunsmith who fitted the pad (Sycamore Hill Designs) shopped around for one. Had to be large. Galazan used to have them.

For my Ithaca singel barrel trap gun I scarfed an old Jostam on eBay and had it fitted by a gunsmith (Diamond Gunsmithing).

 

[scooter123]

I'd caution you to test the sear by pointing the weapon downrange and smartly racking a few rounds through the action, being prepared for an unanticipated discharge. We were issued those parkerized M37s in the early 80s (1970s purchase) but retired them because too many would discharge as you chambered a round. They likely had 50-100 rounds per year run through them.

This may not be a problem with the sear. The model 37 was originally designed without a disconnector and due to this had the ability to Slam Fire if you held the trigger down.

 

[Drm50]

I've had issues with 37s going off upon racking in a shell. The issue was gunk. The 37 not being as handy to strip as the newer clunks like 870 and 500 Moss ends up never cleaned deep. People come home use WD or such on their guns, stand them in gun case and all dissolved gunk ends up in running gears. The 37 is not tolerant of shoddy handloads. The Ohio made gun is the 37. The 87 Ithaca was their improved model nobody wanted, just like Rem 11-87. The 37 is in top three pumps ever built. Win 12, Rem 31 and Ith 37. All three of these guns will last forever if properly maintained. I have had to work on pumps and auto shotguns that were bought new by returning WW2 vets. It's unbelievable how much gunk can be in these guns before they fail. Most of these guns are well taken care of as far as external and bore cleaning. I wish I had kept a 8shot 37 but I was into A5s.

 

[Valmet]

The old Ithaca 37 is one of what I consider the "big three" classic all-purpose shotguns. The others being the Model 12 and the 870 (well, older 870s).

 

[Buick]

I used to hunt with an old guy who had been a machine gunner on Okinawa. He always deer hunted with an Ithaca Deerslayer. He was good with it. He told me that the Ithaca 37 was prized for perimeter security around the machine gun. When i asked him why the Ithaca, he looked at me like i was "a bit touched" and replied,"cause they dont give no trouble". Great guy.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

In the mid-1990s my LGS acquired and was liquidating a passel of Wells Fargo surplus guns. Winchester 97s, S&W M10s, and Ithaca M 37s. All for around 150 bucks each!

Not knowing how much I would like and need a Winchester M97 for cowboy action shooting it was a few years before I acquired such guns and I paid dearly for it. However, when the dust settled I had a tricked out Model 97 in 16 gauge and I learned to be pretty quick with it. It survived the fire of 2018 and is in my safe presently.

The handguns I acquired went to my then wife; no big deal - I didn't need any of those and I have moved way past them.

My best buy was an Ithaca M37. It has been my go to house shotgun for 25 years now. I just freaking love that shotgun.

 

[docjonson]

My 1st model 37 was sold to buy a color tv for my new bride. Never got over it. Have another that is a twin of that one. Picked up a Chinese copy of the 37, don't recall the model #, it's stored in back room gun safe. It is a look alike only, the parts don't interchange but it is good shooting and has 18" barrel. Would be my go-to house gun if felt need for more fire power.

 

[SG-688]

This may not be a problem with the sear. The model 37 was originally designed without a disconnector and due to this had the ability to Slam Fire if you held the trigger down.

Half true.

The original model 37 lockwork is functionally identical to the Winchester model 12 with a stud on the hammer engaged by a hook on the slide release lever. The bolt carrier hits an interior arm on the slide release lever, releasing the hammer. A secondary sear and trip lever like most any hammer fired full auto.

A model 37 "without a disconnector," as was commonly sold in the sporting models and sometimes mistakenly in the riot guns, will not "slam fire." The hammer will harmlessly follow the bolt. The only thing actually missing is the stud on the hammer. Everything else is the same.

Model 37 experts say there are at least two versions of the lockwork that functions like an 870 or 1200.

 

[HardToHandle]

If we going to talk scattergun music, it is Junior Taylor - "shoot a boy and run now... Do the Jack Benny..."
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI7CtxlisCk"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI7CtxlisCk[/ame]

My favorite starring role for the Ithaca 37 is making the "Shotgun Ed" Nickname in LA Confidential.
Plenty of gunplay and faux violence - [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkbiz3-NxK4"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkbiz3-NxK4[/ame]

 

[bushmaster1313]

The old Ithaca 37 is one of what I consider the "big three" classic all-purpose shotguns. The others being the Model 12 and the 870 (well, older 870s).

Don't get me wrong, the above are great shotguns. Especially the Ithaca, with its bottom ejection and quick pointing. The two negatives to the Ithaca are that too much tightening to the stock bolt will crack the sides of the stock right behind the receiver and in order to load directly into an empty chamber you must first rack the action all the way back and then a little bit forward so the two lifter arms will be clear of the chamber.

However, to me, the Remington 31 is the best of all the classic pump shotguns. But to each their own.