[bushmaster1313]

Here are three classic HD shotguns that cost between $250 and $350:

Winchester Model 12 (1955)
Ithaca Model 37 (1956)
High Standard Flite King (~1972)

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww6/bushmaster1313/CIMG3468.jpg

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww6/bushmaster1313/CIMG3469.jpg

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww6/bushmaster1313/CIMG3471.jpg

[EvanWilliams]

Very nice!! I have a Mossberg 500A for HD. It is black and utilitarian. I love your guns. The wood and blued steel is my favorite. My great grandpaw and grandpaw both had similar shotguns to these.

[bushmaster1313]

Mossberg 500 is a great shotgun.
Easy to take care of.
Easy on the wallet.
Goes bang each and every time!

Hope to some day find a wood and blue steel bargain Mossberg with an 18.5 inch barrel from the 1960's.

Also on the hunt for a similar Remington Wingmaster.

[chevyforlife21]

im jealous haha mostly of the 37

[reckless carolinian]

That's a sweet 37 in the middle. I do have a question, though. Can barrels on the Ithacas of that era be interchanged? And where would a guy go about finding one if so?

[chevyforlife21]

gunbroker.com

[Big Bill]

Excellent collection!!! I have a Winchester 1300 Defender. According to Winchester, mine was built in 1988.

[RMc]

Steve McQueen used an identical High Standard Flite-King riot gun in the 1972 movie The Getaway

[reckless carolinian]

To clarify, my Ithaca is prior to S/N 855,000, Mfd in 1960. Those will be much harder to find. All Ithaca bbls I've found are only for post 855,000 37s.

[Big Bill]

I love the Ithaca!

[bushmaster1313]

That's a sweet 37 in the middle. I do have a question, though. Can barrels on the Ithacas of that era be interchanged? And where would a guy go about finding one if so?

Barrels below 855,000 are not interchangeable.

I had a gunsmith cut the barrel of the Ithaca 37 to 18.5 inches and I refinished the stock with lots of elbow grease and Tru-Oil, enjoying every minute!

[reckless carolinian]

See, that's what I thought. Oh well. Guess mines just going to have to live with a 28 incher.

[AcceptableUserName]

id take the model 12.


but all would be more than welcome with me!

[Speedo66]

The older Ithacas had to be sent back to the factory to refit new barrels. Which they did.

Doubt if the new owners will provide that service to the old guns.

[oletymer]

Yes the new company will modify the older guns so they can use the interchangeable barrels. It is not cheap though. Check their website.
http://www.ithacagun.com/ithacabarrels.html

[Fred Fuller]

That's a very nice stable of working shotguns, bushmaster. You have good taste. Add a solid frame 1897 riot gun, a Stevens 520 riot and a classic 870 Wingmaster-marked riot or Police gun and you'd pretty much have the field completely covered. Might not get all of those in your stated price range, though 8^).

lpl

[bushmaster1313]

That's a very nice stable of working shotguns, bushmaster. You have good taste. Add a solid frame 1897 riot gun, a Stevens 520 riot and a classic 870 Wingmaster-marked riot or Police gun and you'd pretty much have the field completely covered. Might not get all of those in your stated price range, though 8^).


I think you left out the Mossberg 500.

[Jonah71]

Those pics make me miss my old Browning 12 ga. But I still don't miss carrying it. Nice guns you have there. I'm developing an irrational dislike of plastic for some reason the more I look at pics of old guns,

[Fred Fuller]

I think you left out the Mossberg 500.

You already have a High Standard. That's what Mossberg 500s want to be when they grow up :D.

lpl

[wnycollector]

Nice group of shotguns! I agree with Lee, you NEED a Stevens 520 with the double hump receiver! I'm most jealous of the High Standard Flite-King. I might also add an old remington model 11 cuz one cant have to many JMB designed shotguns.

[Dave McCracken]

Nice guns.

Lots of good fighting shotguns, not so many good shotgunners.

Become the exception....

[bushmaster1313]

Nice guns.

Lots of good fighting shotguns, not so many good shotgunners.

Become the exception....

Best post I've ever seen!

[earlthegoat2]

I like that Model 12 too.

It looks like the stock is too short though.

[bushmaster1313]

I like that Model 12 too.

It looks like the stock is too short though.

Model 12 was purchased with a full length full choke barrel with a dent at the muzzle end. The pump handle was badly scarred on the bottom from use in the field. The stock was fitted with a stiff White Line pad and the wood had been cut to give a 13 inch LOP to the end of the pad. Remember, I said it was a "bargain".

Barrel, which matchs the receiver, was cut to 19.5 inches measured to a closed bolt. Pump handle was replaced with a larger version bought online. Taking the advice of some online tactical shotgun experts, I took the pad off and have been trying the gun out with the 12 inch LOP left with the pad off. I like it. I am going to cut the stock one more inch and fit it with an old but still soft vintage pad to give a 12 inch LOP.

[INMY01TA]

Very nice. Curious what the capacity is of the High Standard for 2.75 shells?

[devildog32713]

Nice collection, especially nice Ithaca, did you know they are just now retiring the Ithaca 37 from the NYC Police? They are changing to a new Mossberg, the 590A1, 14 inch, heavy, thick walled barrel. As We speak my Mossberg 500 Persuader sits next to me, I prefer slugs for HD.

[bushmaster1313]

If I lived in a state that allowed NFA's I would be tempted by the 590A1 14 incher.
Till then its 18.01 inches and up for me.
(actually, I insist on at least 18.25 inches so there is no question of compliance)

[bushmaster1313]

Very nice. Curious what the capacity is of the High Standard for 2.75 shells?

6 in the magazine.

[WVMountainBoy]

Just bought a 60's vintage wingmaster, she's a bit beat up, but she's still quite in service :)

[bushmaster1313]

I am looking for a vintage Wingmaster with an 18.5 inch Barrel

[broken]

nice guns,i just went through a three hour ordeal fitting black synthetic furniture"i know" not wood,my wood was shot,to my 1200 riot ,dremal grinding the forearm to fit,that they didnt tell me anything about."john mason kit.turned out nice.i like that model 12.

[19-3Ben]

Those are some classic HD guns alright. And today would still be just as effective as they were when they were brand new. Pretty cool eh?