[Clemson]

My first repeating shotgun was a 20 gauge Model 37 Ithaca. This one was made in 1947. The gun barrel had been cut down to make a cylinder bore bird gun out of it. The stock looked like it had gone through the Crimean war in the hold of a ship. I saved my allowance and sent the barrel to Herters for installation of an adjustable choke. I had the barrel finished off at 24 inches, and I restocked the gun myself using Herter's wood. I was about 15 years old, and this was a pretty involved project for me. That gun was my only shotgun for the next 15 years. After I got out of the army, I bought a Remington 1100, and I sort of stored the old pump in the closet. Occasionally I would run some skeet or clays with it, but normally I would pick up the 1100.

A couple of months ago I got a flyer from Numrich showing brand new barrels to fit old Ithaca shotguns. They were vent-rib, 28" tubes. I ordered one knowing that I would have to fit it to the receiver. Sure enough, it wouldn't even begin to thread in, but the barrel looked great. I finally got around to fitting it yesterday. It took about four hours of hand work, but it fit up as nice as you please. I test fired the gun, and all is well. I may take this one dove hunting this year for nostalgic reasons! It has a full choke, and I had planned to open it up or even have tubes fitted. I think I will shoot it as-is first, however, just to see the targets smoke.

Next step is to learn to rust blue.

Clemson

[Dave McCracken]

Sounds like a good project, Clemson. Let us know how it goes.