school me on ithica model 37s shotguns!

[mfp4073]

Been wanting a pump action shotgun for a number of years for home defense.....and well cause I want one. Decided I wanted a traditional style, short barrel with wood furniture. Few days ago found one of these in a pawn shop for 325$. Dont know about the price being good or not, but its got age to it. Might be 40-50 years old and looks good. But no way of know its real age. Like the fact that they were used by the military for trench gun purposes.

So tell me what you know. What kinda prices I should be looking at. How I can tell the age, etc.

Some porn pics first:

looks like this one, but patina of age.


would like one with a bayonet lug....how cool is that!

[Andyinhilo]

If you can pick up a Model 37 for $325 in good shape, grab it. These are great pump guns. Light, smooth, dependable, all steel. IMHO, the best pump gun yet.

[BLU HWY]

Bottom eject is good for lefties, not THOSE kind of Lefties....
Trigger held depressed is good for slam firing.

Heat shield & bayonet are probably pretty rare, cool!
Last Trench gun I couldn't get was $550.

Got an OK condition 37 marked "Washington State Patrol" for $250.

[Grreatdog]

Originally Posted by BLU HWY

Bottom eject is good for lefties, not THOSE kind of Lefties....

My dad thought so. He liked his Ithaca enough to buy me an Ithaca .410 for Christmas when he got home from that tour in 1968. Best Christmas present ever for a kid.

[vtwin]

I have an Ithaca Featherlite model. Really nice piece and has never let me down. It's a little fancier than the op's, but basically the same. It's light and easy to swing. You do have to have it machined to put a choke on it though. Mine is the 28" barrel, meaning it's too short for trap and too long for skeet. Since I don't hunt, not sure how it does in the field, but the lightweight I'd imagine is a plus on a long day in the bush.

[mfp4073]

Originally Posted by vtwin

You do have to have it machined to put a choke on it though. Since I don't hunt, not sure how it does in the field, but the lightweight I'd imagine is a plus on a long day in the bush.

No interest in hunting for me and no interest in doing anything other than shooting 2 liter bottles and cans and looking pretty cool.

[mfp4073]

Capt. Robert Kermen, USNR, Brown Water Navy in Vietnam, with Ithaca 37 used to destroy mines.

[Wolfgang55]

Keep in mind the "slam shooting" maybe fun, if you expect it.
But these guns have had more AD credited to this model than any other shotgun.

Not putting down the gun at all but, in the hands of someone wanting to "look cool" this is a real problem that will happen.

Not sure but I believe they are chmbered for 2 3/4''.

The price sounds very fair if in good condition. Just get your finger OFF the triger before you pump another round in the chamber.

[mfp4073]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang55

Keep in mind the "slam shooting" maybe fun, if you expect it.
But these guns have had more AD credited to this model than any other shotgun.

Not putting down the gun at all but, in the hands of someone wanting to "look cool" this is a real problem that will happen.

Not sure but I believe they are chmbered for 2 3/4''.

The price sounds very fair if in good condition. Just get your finger OFF the triger before you pump another round in the chamber.

So are they all "autotriggered" (thats what I have always heard it called).

Dont know shit about shotguns, whats the difference in the shells? 12 ga aint 12 ga? Plenty of time with everything from muzzle loader flintlocks to ar15s and 1911s. Did play paintball at a time when I had a pump action with autotrigger and got used to working it.

[mfp4073]

any way to tell the age of it?

Looked them up in my older (much older) version of flaydermans and couldnt find a listing....

[KeithinSC]

$325? Jump at it. Heck, chew him down to $275 and make sure he tosses in a box of shells!

I have Granpa's '37 in 20 gauge. He had fired it not knowing the barrel was plugged with mud. Yup, blew the muzzle off. Fitted a "Dial-a-Choke" on it (this was 40 years ago). Run the full choke shooting skeet in the backyard, tight patterns out past 50 yards.

I am a crappy skeet shooter, but this thing makes we look like a hero. Love the bottom eject, but this one has the safety set for a lefty. I'd like to convert it but havent yet, just have to keep reminding myself ...bassackwards safety button, and always leave the pump open and chamber empty. I'd also like to get a rifled barrel and shoot some slugs.

Nothing like a piece of history kicking you in the shoulder!

[S2P]

I had one as a kid but it was a featherweight 20, as I got older I couldn't swing it fast enough. Never had any problems with it,and sold it to a buddy. Check your pricing on Gunbroker.com it should show you everything you want to know.

[mfp4073]

Originally Posted by S2P

I had one as a kid but it was a featherweight 20, as I got older I couldn't swing it fast enough. Never had any problems with it,and sold it to a buddy. Check your pricing on Gunbroker.com it should show you everything you want to know.

did check out gunbroker, prices seem all over the place. Sometimes 250 sometimes 750. Think I will come by some time this week and see what we can come up with.

[MillCreek]

I have two DSPS models, both with short barrels and parkerized. My favorite fighting shotgun, bar none. This is primarily because I am right-handed but left-eyed so I shoot longarms left-handed. I look for longarms that don't eject right into my face.

[2000RSV]

Great gun. Bought mine in 1974 when I turned 12. $125 at the time. Still use it today to hunt rabbits. Has been flawless all these years. Been a lot of shells run through it to. Can't shoot worth crap, but I have fun stomping the weeds. Glad I don't have to hunt to put food on the table. Although, the weight loss might do me some good.

During a ride a couple of years back I stopped in Ithica to see the factory. Closed.

J