[Harry Paget Flashman]

I bought an Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight 12ga last week from a guy(retired USMC & gunsmith) who was selling off his guns for health reasons. It is used but in superb condition and came with a spare Hastings barrel with IC and Full screw-in chokes. I owned a Model 37 before for about 30 years and loved it but I gave it to my son-in-law when the Mossberg 835 I bought him got stolen out of his truck.

Later I saw a brand new 37 with an English stock and bought it on impulse but I could never warm up to that style of stock. I sold it at a loss and replaced it with a used one just like my original. But I gave that to my newest son-in-law last month as a wedding present.

So, this is the last Model 37 I'm buying. The first one I bought new in 1972 was around $140 IIRC, this latest was $520.

[Scoupe]

One of the finest pump guns ever made IMO. Mine's ready for a re-blue after 30 some years.

[Whole Hog]

My father-in-law gave me a Model 37 Featherlight in 20 gauge many years ago and I still appreciate it. It's great for quail hunting around here, where I usually walk many miles in the course of a day. I look forward to the day I can pass it on.

[ArmedBear]

a Model 37 Featherlight in 20 gauge many years ago and I still appreciate it. It's great for quail hunting around here, where I usually walk many miles in the course of a day. I look forward to the day I can pass it on.

Can I be your adopted son?:D

[Hoppy590]

ya seriously. adopt me as a son in law, i need a M37.

im hoping a M37 will be my next shotgun

[bowfin]

I have a 20 gauge Ithaca, I hope my next shotgun is a newly manufactured 12 gauge Ithaca.

A M37 trenchgun as manufactured in WWII would be irresistible!

[Whole Hog]

Sorry guys, I'm too old for more kids and too young for sons-in-law. If you're ever passing through though, I'll let you shoot it.

[MIL-DOT]

back in the 80's,when i was stationed at camp pendleton, i went to an aneheim gunshow and got a hard-chrome finish,8 shot M-37 riot gun for $250 even. i loved that gun,but,alas, one of my baby brothers somehow pissed it away (i may never know the true story). i've searched for another, chrome or parkerized, but there are none to be found. i settled on a mossberg 500 cruiser (which i've still not put a round through). but i have read that,after some sort of difficulty,ithica (new ownership ??) is putting out a 37 under the embarrasingly stupid name "homeland defender". still,"... a 37 by any other name........"

p.s. from what i understand, the M-37 isn't "one of " the best pump shotguns ever made, it is in fact THE best pump shotgun ever made.:neener:

[Wags]

I cannot say enough positive comments about Ithaca Mod 37 shotguns. I own four, and only one other pump (870) thats basically retired years ago. Still love the 870 since it was my first shotgun.

[another okie]

I also love my old 37. The action just gets smoother with use. I have a short barrel on it for home defense, and I keep the long barrel around for duck and goose hunting. It is tough, easy to clean, has a 3" chamber. What else would you expect from the mind of John Browning?

[mohctep]

I've had my Model 37 since about 1974.It's a 12 ga,with vent rib.I have hunted with that thing for many years now,and it is by far my favorite shotgun!:cool:

[scattergun157]

Hi;

I just gave an Ithaca model 37 to my 10 month old grandson for his first Christmas, & I would like to know when it was made.
The serial # is 9265XX
Thanks,
Mike

[Black_Talon]

Hi;

I just gave an Ithaca model 37 to my 10 month old grandson for his first Christmas, & I would like to know when it was made.
The serial # is 9265XX
Thanks,
Mike

Your lucky grandson now owns a M37 that was built in late 1965.

[brentwal]

M37 was my first pump shotgun.

I have a 12ga and a 20ga. Still look for the sweet 16.

[matt311]

I just got my first M37 12g built in 1942 .. shot it a few times and love it... But not going to shoot it anymore. Now im looking for a newer model 12g and 20g .. and its not easy... because everyone that owns a M37 .. well they dont want to part with it. and i completly understand why. did they make the M37 in a 16g? that would be sweet also. the 20g are hard to come by anyways arent they?... the 16g is probably even harder?...

[Oldnamvet]

I have two neighbors with M37s in 16 gauge. One doesn't shoot anymore but is saving it for his grandson. The other still uses his. I tried to talk them into dealing but no go. I don't blame them at all.

[waterhouse]

My father-in-law gave me a Model 37 Featherlight in 20 gauge many years ago

My dad gave me mine many years ago, and it is still my favorite dove and quail gun. I've made sure to pick up a couple spares over the years so the nieces and nephews have something they can carry when they visit.

[Black_Talon]

did they make the M37 in a 16g?

Yes, Ithaca made 16 ga M37's, but they discontinued them in 1973.

[marine71]

Once upon a time I bought up a gun collection and in the fear of being caught by the wife, I sold off many of them to recoup the debt I was playing with. In hindsight, it was a great time. ha

Anyways, I sold off a M37 for $150 to a co-worker. I talked him out of it just 6 months ago. So, I got it back for $150. Great shape to. (The gun, not the co-worker.)

And I was in the local gun shop yesterday and saw another M37, this one a riot model that was sold to the shop by the local law enforcement, and I'm going back tomorrow to claim it. It feels nice to hold, makes a nice ker-chunk sound, and looks mean. $165 is the tag price. Is that fair?

[jaysouth]

No! It is not faor that I live so far away from this gunshop and can't beat you to it.

[brentwal]

My M37s a 12 and a 20. NOw somebody find me a 16.;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v491/brentwal/DSC00330-5.jpg

[jdinor]

Other than being a little finicky about the shells it will digest, slightly prone to jamming, dropping an occasional shell and kicking like a mule, it is a great gun. It is one of the finest hard shooting light weight repeating shotguns ever. I have two 12 gauge M37s. One is a youth model 12 gauge with the super light alloy receiver and a 26 inch barrel. I would guess it weighs maybe 5 pounds. Strange combination: super light, youth stock 12 gauge. My wife shot it once and never asked to go hunting again. Nice gun that M37.

[likemhot]

My brother-in law has a M37 in 16ga that he got as a kid, we are now both closer to our mid 50's than mid teen's. Anyway we have both been avid hunters for years and his still works like the day he bought it and is smooth as silk.

About five years ago I did a favor for a friend and he wanted to pay me, I wouldn't take any money and he knew I loved to hunt so he gave a M37 in 12ga. that he had, since he had given up hunting. I offered to pay him what he thought it was worth and his reply was "If you wouldn't take money from a friend why would I."

My brother-in-laws has a vented rib, mine does not. Mine is marked M37 feather weight sn 1369912 and has hunting scenes on both sides of the reciever. Any info on this gun would be appreciated.

[66912]

Marine71, I would say the $165 is an exceptional price for that M37 riot gun. I have two, the first was made in 1966, I bought it 4 years ago for $199. The second one is a DSPS model made in 1975, The barrel was done for so I got this one for $130. I just wish the new " Ithaca gun co. USA or whatever", can get thier poop in a group and get back to producing new barrels. Now they are saying it will be as much as six months until their production line is back up in order to produce new barrels.

[marine71]

I now have two M 37's (both 12 gauge) tucked into the gun safe. The first is the non-vented standard that I mentioned in an earlier post. I found it to be a little clunky with ejection and whatnot, but it still felt nice.

I brought home the M&P 20" barrel today, not even sure how many shells it holds. I know that some had an 8 shot capacity. And it feels greeeaat to swing around. Can't wait to blast something with it. (Hopefully not an intruder. I heard it's hard to get bone fragments out of drywall.) ha

Appreciate the forum. Thanks guys.

[Black_Talon]

Mine is marked M37 feather weight sn 1369912 and has hunting scenes on both sides of the reciever. Any info on this gun would be appreciated.

"1369912" isn't a valid M37 serial number. Could it be 136991-2? If so, it was built in 1947 and came from the factory with a MOD choked barrel on it.

[likemhot]

Black_Talon, I will attempt to get pictures, but there is no "minus 2". This serial number (sn 1369912) is clear and precise. It sits on the right side of the receiver in the lower left corner, under the the engraving that is of a long haired hunting dog and two flushing pheasant.

As stated before, the barrel is non-vented, but it does have an orange front bead. Could this be an after market item or would this been available in '47 ?

There are also two inter locking screws, the round bottom of a screw and the detent, from the pin, from the positive shell stop, all visible on the right side of the receiver. The left side has 3 screws, two of which are inter locking. That scene is of three inflight waterfowl.

The bottom of the grip cap is black with a white spacer.

The roto-forged anvil gun mark can be found on several parts including the receiver and barrel (2 places).

thanks again,

likemhot

[Black_Talon]

This serial number (sn 1369912) is clear and precise.

It's not a M37 number in that form. Is there any way the first two number could be illegible or ground off? If it was 371369912 it would be a 1974 production gun. That jibes with the Roto-forged (the anvil) proof mark and the Raybar front sight. The Raybar sight was introduced in 1955 and the "Roto-forged" bbls were phased in starting from 1963.

[marine71]

My older M37 (serial 376024,.... 1951?) doesn't have the Raybar sight on it, if in fact it came with it. Was that Raybar actually that great of a sight? Right now I have a brass ball that looks original, not sure though.

Neighbor guy was a hardware rep since the 50's and he gave me his old books and whatnot and in there I found original sales literature on many guns, to include the M37 and the 'revolutionary' Raybar sight. I think the standard model sold for $64 in '56.

[Encoreman]

Hi Gentlemen, I usually stay in the reloading forum. I found a M37R 16 gauge today that is going to be my 5 month old grandson's 1st shotgun. I just happened to go by a small gunshop that a friend owns and was just talking deer hunting and such and he asked if anyone I knew needed a 37 for $200. Boy my grandson is going to like this. I would have preferred a 20 gauge for his 1st one, may let him shoot my 1964 model light 20 Belgium Browning that my dad bought new for $164. Had to post this 37 find.God Bless All Mac

[Black_Talon]

My older M37 (serial 376024,.... 1951?) doesn't have the Raybar sight on it, if in fact it came with it. Was that Raybar actually that great of a sight? Right now I have a brass ball that looks original, not sure though.

Neighbor guy was a hardware rep since the 50's and he gave me his old books and whatnot and in there I found original sales literature on many guns, to include the M37 and the 'revolutionary' Raybar sight. I think the standard model sold for $64 in '56.

Your 1951 M37 would have come from the factory with a brass bead. Ithaca didn't start using the Raybar sights until 1955.

[matt311]

Talon .. Since i have the '42 model there is no way I can get a longer barrel for it really huh? I would like a newer barrel and alittle longer ... also at the Midway website I found some stocks and forends... will those not fit the older '42 model? I want to keep the original stock and forend but they are pretty beat up and the stock has some cracks in it. basically i just want to get it up to standards for a usable gun with out sending it out for months and spending a thousand dollors...

[Black_Talon]

Talon .. Since i have the '42 model there is no way I can get a longer barrel for it really huh? I would like a newer barrel and alittle longer

You can put another bbl on it but it'd have to be fitted by a gunsmith

.. also at the Midway website I found some stocks and forends... will those not fit the older '42 model? I want to keep the original stock and forend but they are pretty beat up and the stock has some cracks in it. basically i just want to get it up to standards for a usable gun with out sending it out for months and spending a thousand dollors...

Buttstocks and forends will fit, but you have to make sure the forend is one of the earlier 6" versions.

[langenc]

I bought'a 37 in mid 70s that some jacka55 had taken a pipe wrench to the barrel on. I got it reblued and it came back beautiful.

I gave it to my youngest son for college graduation-older 2 got Win 12s. we later sent it in and had a new barrel with tubes put in. I told him I have recall rights. He gets ready to sell-I recall.