Any Ithaca 37 fans out there?

[6GUNSONLY]

I have these two. On the top in the photo is a fairly scarce 3" magnum model with factory screw-in chokes, mid-80s production, I think. Below is a standard but very nice 20 Featherlight 27" modified choke.

 

[phonejack]

I inherited my father-in-laws 12gauge, very solid. Wish it didn't have a 30" barrell tho.

 

[cellar701]

Nice!

 

[stevemb]

Amongst my anti-grouse battery are a '49 20ga., that had been special ordered with a 24" full choke. Maybe to be a squirrel or bunny gun ? Had choke reamed to .005 for birds. Also have a '50 M37 from an uncle. Its a 16ga with a more standard 28" Mod choke. Had a early-70's 12 ga with extra Deerslayer barrel I bought myself with trapping money, back before I had a drivers license. stevemb

 

[Mike Armstrong]

I have a first-year-of-production (1940) 37R 20 guage that I keep just because it's beautiful. Don't hunt with it any more because I've been using a double so long that a pump just isn't instinctive for me any more. 'Way too slow by the time I figure out it doesn't have TWO triggers and the safety is someplace down by the trigger!

For a pump gunner, they are the best!

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

There's an early '80s 20 ga living here right now. 28" (from memory) bbl, mod choke, corn cob forend. It belonged to a buddy's Dad, and when Dad passed, it came to me to visit. Goes back to the buddy any time he asks.

Rick C

 

[Three50seven]

Beautiful guns! I have two, a 1946 purchased new by my Great-Grandfather and a 1964 that belonged to my Great Uncle. Both 12ga. 28" barrel with no rib. I don't have any pics, but I need to take some!

 

[TucsonDirt]

My dad gave me his Deerslayer many years ago when he stopped hunting, it's seen its share of use every NY deer season he or I used it.
It's got a 20" smoothbore slug barrel but I've been thinking of getting a different barrel for it and using it for quail hunting.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I'd love to have a deerslayer barrel for the 3" 12 ga, but chances of finding one probably aren't good.

 

[xtratoy]

I have a 20 gauge!!

 

[Mike Armstrong]

Tucsondirt, you might want to try that Deerslayer for quail just the way it is, maybe unscrew the peep sight slide. Worth a try; the barrel is actually choked a little bit, and with modern shells should throw about an improved cylinder pattern. I used a 20 guage Deerslayer for grouse for years after the deer season was over and it worked fine. Very handy in the brushy gullies we called "heart attack factories."

Main issue would be whether your quail hold for a decent shot. If they're Gambel's, they may not, and you would indeed need a longer barrel with more choke. Those are available.

 

[FlyerTom]

I purchased a 37 back in 1970 (for $130 BTW), because the bottom ejection was just the ticket for a reloader. Pull back the slide and it put the empty hull RIGHT THERE. Cool, right? Uh, no. Not in my case. This 37 did not like shooting reloads. At first, the shells began sticking in the magazine, the rimmed head was dragging on the bore of the tube. I took the magazine tube into work, and with an adjustable reamer, opened up the bore until the shell rims passed through easily.
Then, the shells began sticking in the chamber after firing. Shooting trap once a week, I was forced to carry my cleaning rod out to the stand and disassemble the gun and knock the hull out between shots. It was a great source of amusement to my shooting partners, referring to the Ithaca as "the pump-action muzzle-loader". After many torn rims and two broken extractors, I finally traded the 37 in for a Baretta BL-1 O/U.
I'm pretty sure it was the fault of the Lyman Easy reloader I was using at the time, not sizing the shell head properly, and if I was using just factory loads, I'd probably still own it. It definitely was a smooth operator otherwise.

 

[willk]

Unfortunately, I inherited my father's Model 37 in 20 ga when I was 16 years old. When our son graduated from college and entered the Air Force, we gave it to him. So, now it is in the possession of a grandson who never came close to meeting his grandfather.

He's a lefty and the 37 fits him perfectly.

 

[David LaPell]

I have had a few Ithaca 37's over the years. Two early featherlight 16 gauges, a 20 gauge featherlight in the box and a 12 gauge with a 20 inch barrel, but my favorite is my inherited 16 gauge Deluxe Deerslayer. This gun has accounted for some nice deer, a coyote, and more grouse than I can count.

 

[Tradhunter]

I am a fan but don't own any yet.

 

[K4SDC]

I don't know about the 37, but I had an Ithaca Model 51 Featherlight that my grandfather gave me in the mid '70's. A few years ago the house I lived in was broken into and several long guns were taken. The 51 was among them. I'm looking around hoping to be able to replace the gun someday, but the memories of hunting with my grandfather are intact.

I really miss that gun.

 

[rugerguy]

yessir, we have three 20 ga ithacas,one ,early solid rib, one in the "magnum" and the wifes, "shorty" cutdown stock, with the Sid Bell grip cap,Deerslayer, used for slugs ( deer) AND shooting skeet /grouse years ago.......being 'left' handed , the bottom ejection "fit the bill".......

 

[Joe S.]

i hear those are bad (or good, depending on how you look at it) about slam firing? is that true?

 

[George Tucker]

I have a 20ga Featherweight 37, i also have a Remington mod 17, which is just like the 37, when Remingtons patten ran out, Ithaca picked it up, thats how the 37 came to be, i really like the Ithaca mod 37, George.

 

[BlkHawk73]

My grandfather had three firearms. Each of my brothers and I have one - mine is the Ithaca Model 37, a 20g a featherweight. I prefer the bottom eject and the way it handles. Neat part is I also got the original wooden mag tube plug, hang tag and Ithaca choke measurement/removal tool.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Yes, a 37 will slam fire. Just hold the trigger back and jack the slide.

 

[Base Pin Maker]

20 gauge skeet gun here, my dad had a 12 guage 37 when we were on the farm. Kelye @ Belt Mtn

 

[TucsonDirt]

Tucsondirt, you might want to try that Deerslayer for quail just the way it is, maybe unscrew the peep sight slide. Worth a try; the barrel is actually choked a little bit, and with modern shells should throw about an improved cylinder pattern. I used a 20 guage Deerslayer for grouse for years after the deer season was over and it worked fine. Very handy in the brushy gullies we called "heart attack factories."

Main issue would be whether your quail hold for a decent shot. If they're Gambel's, they may not, and you would indeed need a longer barrel with more choke. Those are available.

Thanks Mike, I have taken it out once for quail (removed peep sight). It shot well; I didn't :x . ( Gambel's quail wouldn't hold still!)
I have since taken it and my Mossberg 500 20ga out shooting clays with my sons and I did okay with it.
Looking forward to my next quail hunt but I shot up all my ammo shooting clays, I think I can still find some birdshot (ha ha).

I do like the short barrel length for carrying through brushy desert washes but I think I'd like a longer barrel with a rib for small game (birds).
However, pricing a barrel with choke tubes on the Ithaca site, it looks like I could probably get another Mossberg for about the same price.
I check auction sites once in a while for a used barrel but not really a serious search right now, I have other buying priorities when I get some spare cash.

 

[Joe in Fl]

I have but one M37, it is a factory AOW Stakeout
13" barrel and pistol grip. Bought it in 1984 when working as LEO
It has seen a lot of good times and a few really bad times.
I will be buried with this M37
Joe

 

[COR]

Featherlight 16ga for me.

 

[jeffnles1]

I picked this one up at a gun show over the weekend.

The barrel has been cut back to 18", but other than that she's in pretty good shape for a gun made in 1949. It's not a 'collector' grade gun but I didn't pay a 'collector' price either. Just a nice old shotgun.

Jeff

 

[jamesellik]

that is a beauty. I have an old beater 37 chambered in 16ga, paid $60 for it when I was 15. Killed more deer with that old shotgun than I can count. Other than finding shells for it, I love everything about it.

 

[rich e]

I bet thats a great grouse gun.

 

[jeffnles1]

I bet thats a great grouse gun.

 

[41 Magnum]

I have Dad's old 37 Featherweight 16 Ga. from the late 1940's. Still works as new, & I love it. Wish I had one in 20 Ga., but my 20 is an 870 Rem., & it's pretty darn nice too.