FYI Ithaca Unveils Defense Model 37

[dak0ta]

New Defense Model Unveiled. Look pretty nice. Fixed barrel however...

[Coronach]

Hmm. Looks like a nice gun, at a decent price.

I wish them all of the luck in the world, but I won't be buying one. I may pick up a nice, blued, 37 featherweight with a non-fixed barrel, though. It's the fixed barrel that kills it for me.

Still, for someone looking for a defensive gun that is not a Rem870, this is a good bet.

Mike

[.455_Hunter]

Nice gun!

It is possible to "flip" the cross-bolt safety to favor a left handed shooter?

[huntsman]

It's the fixed barrel that kills it for me.

Why? The guys I knew that used the 37 for slug guns claimed it was the fixed barrel that made it special.

[mr.scott]

Wait, $450 for a 5 shot fixed barrel shotgun? I can get a remington 870 or a mossberg 500 for $100 or more less than that.

I liked my Model 37 that I had, but only paid $100(used) for it 5 years ago.

[Sinixstar]

I think it's just a financial thing.
If they made the defense model with an interchangable barrel - now you just buy a new barrel - and you have a regular model 37, for a few hundred bucks cheaper.
So the options are, make the defense model expensive enough to cover the difference, or don't give it an interchagable barrel.

Also - $450 is full MSRP. Full MSRP on a base model 870 Express is $375. So you're really not talking a big difference there. Throw in the 18" barrel for the 870, and i'm willing to bet you get beyond the $450 mark.

Model 37s also have a bit of a cult following (for lack of a better term). Many people are willing to pay a few extra bucks because they want that specific gun. If they were just looking for "a" gun - the Ithaca probably would not be their first choice.

[Dave Williams]

My PD used to issue 37s back in the day. Our riflesmith took an old 37 from our old pile of them that we got rid of to pay for patrol rifles, and totally refinished it and disabled it for our display case.

This thing is just gorgeous, and looking at it every day has made me want one of the new Ithacas.:)

Dave Williams

[Sinixstar]

My PD used to issue 37s back in the day. Our riflesmith took an old 37 from our old pile of them that we got rid of to pay for patrol rifles, and totally refinished it and disabled it for our display case.

This thing is just gorgeous, and looking at it every day has made me want one of the new Ithacas.


You can find those old police guns used fairly often. I've seen more then a couple on gunbroker in the past couple months. Probably be a lot cheaper to get one in good shape and refinish, or even just find a 37 in general in good shape and refinish - then buy a new one.
I think the new models start at $850. They're much more "refined" then the older, more utilitarian models though. Nicer wood in the stocks, more finishing, little "extras". Don't need a lot of that stuff in a working shotgun.

You can get a "deluxe" model 37 that has the checkering and decent wood for well less then half the price of a new model.

[monkyboy1975]

That is a sweet shotgun. It's good to see Ithaca releaseing some more models, I'm still waiting for them to release the 28 Ga.:) Anybody here get to handle one of the new ones yet?

[Coronach]

Why? The guys I knew that used the 37 for slug guns claimed it was the fixed barrel that made it special.Aesthetics, pure and simple. Before you shake your head at me, remember that I did state that it is a perfectly viable gun, and probably is a good alternative to an 870, just that I was not going to get one. Why? I already have an 870 (several, in fact), so I already have the ugly-but-functional shotgun niche filled (police trade-in guns ain't lookers). If I'm going to buy a new Ithaca 37, it's going to be because it is pretty. ;)

Mike

[JaxNovice]

Does anyone know if these are made here in the U.S?

[chuckusaret]

I have several shotguns but one is a HD Mossberg 12ga 20" barrel cruiser which is one of the most reliable pump shotguns in the world and cost less than $300, why buy a new unproven gun that costs a couple hundred more. Not me. Looks don't mean nothing, reliability is what counts in SD/HD situations

[zx12rider]

The ithaca 37 has been around forever. I own a 40's featherweight 20 and 12.

[Al Thompson]

If your a left handed shooter, the M37s were the berries. :)

[jbech123]

The ithaca 37 has been around forever.
or maybe since around....1937?

[aHFo3]

I love the 37, but as a lefty, I'm seriously eyeballing the High Cap BPS.
7 shots, Under $400, and Tang Safety!
Zac

[Hawk]

Does anyone know if these are made here in the U.S?

Upper Sandusky Ohio
http://www.ithacagun.com/ourprocess.html

[Sinixstar]

or maybe since around....1937?


Even longer if you count the Remington Model 17....

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

A fixed barrel?

:banghead:

[ryoushi]

A golden opportunity blown. Why not simply give people what they want, an M&P? The Defense Model just doesn't look right and the whole reason to buy a 37 nowadays is nostalgia and aesthetics.

I shoot shotgun lefthanded and never use the safety on my model 1200. Around the house cruiser carry is the way to go.

[Coronach]

Well, this gives Ithaca a low-cost shotgun for HD. It's not a bad idea. It's an attempt to challenge the 870's marketshare.

Now, I agree, they should also make an 'M&P' style gun. I'd buy one.

Mike

[Bubba613]

Well, this gives Ithaca a low-cost shotgun for HD. It's not a bad idea. It's an attempt to challenge the 870's marketshare.

Tough to do that when NE Arms sells an 870 knock off that dealers can price for like $225 out the door.

[dak0ta]

What does M&P stand for?

[Diamondback6]

"Military & Police".

If they made a repro trenchgun, complete with handguard and bayonet-lug, and I had the liquidity, I'd buy it... assuming they put slam-fire capability back in.

[Teapot]

Norinco makes a repro 1897 Trenchgun complete with a bayonet lug and a six-row perforated barrel shroud for $379 Cdn.

Question: Is there a mag tube extension for the Ithica 37 to increase the mag capacity from four to, say, six?

[Diamondback6]

Teapot, check Brownell's, or start Googling: http://search.icq.com/search/afe_results.php?ch_id=afex&q=ithaca+37+mag+extension BTW, we can't get Norincos down here, import banned by Executive Order on all ChiCom-manufactured guns (can't recall, but maybe ammo too).

[MAKster]

Norinco and other Chinese shotguns are legal to import into the U.S. The H&R Pardner pump is a Norinco. They are also sold under the brand name Interstate.

[Grunt]

I have an Ithaca M-37 and I love it. It doesn't have near the aftermarket "tacti-kewl" trinkets that an 870 or Mossberg has but it really doesn't need them. However, ...comma, pause for effect... the new Ithaca doesn't blow my skirt up. The fixed barrel is a turn off and if their picture isn't a photoshop goof, I really don't like the idea of an unsupported magazine tube. No, I'll stick with my old Ithaca and pass on this new one.

[Howaido]

I like to be able to open the action and take a look inside to see what's doing. For me, the 870 is about as good as it gets.