Old Ithaca Model 37 is a Keeper.

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Fishingted

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Ok I have had this Ithaca model 37 ,12 gauge Pump Shotgun for a very long Time. It previously belonged to a Good Friend of mine who has passed a while back. Plain Barrel Modified choke, Acording to the serial numbers it was made in 1946, so it would be 75 years old. My friends stepson had the gun for a while and did not treat what was once a pristeen Model 37 very well. The gun was put away wet and rusted pretty badly from the abuse. I wound up with it a few years back. For many years I kept it loaded in my closet for a house gun. I tried everything to stop the outside surface rust. Finally found a product called Strike Hold that did a good job of arresting the rust.. Was intending to put the gun up for sale but wanted to make sure it shot before offering it up. Well took it to my local trap range Today and put some 1 ounce loads at the pattern board to check things out. I was Like Wow this thing shoots pretty darn Good. Patterned well into the bead, and seemed to shoot pretty darn tight. Exspecialy for a Modified Choke that it is Marked on the barrel. Chambered and Cycled Pefectly. Guess I may have to Keep this Light Weight 12 gauge Pump Gun for Myself. Would make a great Hunting Gun as well as maybe some fun on the skeet range.​
 
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I have one myself, with 28 and 20" RS barrels. It is a fine gun, and I prefer it over my Mossberg 930 or 870 for doves. If it was capable of firing 3" I would use it for turkey.
 
Great design. Easy takedown for a quick cleaning.

Easy to load, keep loaded and unload without working the action.

Mine functions perfectly at age 51........has malfunctioned......NOT once in thousands of rounds.

I wish I had ten of them.
 
The Ithaca 37 is a gun that I didn't discover until relatively recently. I'd owned other pumps, but had never handled or fired a 37. They are very well-made shotguns of a fine (John Browning) design, and my favorite pump. Here's one of mine, a 1952 model, along side another great shotgun from 1954.
E95C6bo.jpg
 
I6turbo said:
The Ithaca 37 is a gun that I didn't discover until relatively recently. I'd owned other pumps, but had never handled or fired a 37. They are very well-made shotguns of a fine (John Browning) design, and my favorite pump. Here's one of mine, a 1952 model, along side another great shotgun from 1954.
View attachment 995418
Click to expand...
They Both Look Great!!!!
 
I have my Dads 37, a16 gauge. He was a lefty too. I now know why he chose a 37. I dont enjoy shooting it, recoil seems excessive and ammo is getting scarce. Yep it's a keeper.
 
Back before rifled barrels on shotguns the Ithica deerslayer was the most accurate slug gun on the market. I killed a lot of deer with a 26 in barreled 20 gauge and a 20 inch barreled 12 gauge. They both also doubled as great grouse guns.
 
I've used various 37s for the best part of 50 years pheasant hunting in Kansas. Still have one with two barrels if anyone needs a barrel without a rib in 12 gauge. It is from the 1970s so it is interchangeable.
 
I remember during college ('94 - '98) that a local gun shop always had a classified in the Denver Post / Rocky Mountain News. For awhile, they were offer Denver PD surplus Model 37 Riots. Of course, the concept of dropping $200 - 300 on a shotgun was out of reach for a poor student. Such is life...
 
My Dad worked for Ithica gun in the 60's and bought me my first a 20 gauge deerslayer made in 1957 with the small rat tail forearm that fit my hands perfectly. Dad always said I was faster with that 37 than his A-5.
 
9x56MS said:
My Dad worked for Ithica gun in the 60's and bought me my first a 20 gauge deerslayer made in 1957 with the small rat tail forearm that fit my hands perfectly. Dad always said I was faster with that 37 than his A-5.
Click to expand...
If You are used to a pump it can be amazing how quick you get with it. I watched a guy shooting a replica model 12 on the skeet range. He broke his doubles very smoothly and easily broke 25 with it. The only thing about the older 37s is the WILL slamfire. So Trigger control is absolutely paramount.
 
9x56MS said:
Back before rifled barrels on shotguns the Ithica deerslayer was the most accurate slug gun on the market. I killed a lot of deer with a 26 in barreled 20 gauge and a 20 inch barreled 12 gauge. They both also doubled as great grouse guns.
Click to expand...
Just picked up a 1952 with a vented Poly Choke. Looks to be same age as gun. I understand that you could order them from the factory installed. Some People don't like Poly chokes but I love them. 5 chokes at your fingertips. Can't think of anything better for hunting. Should be cool for some Trap and Skeet as Well.
 
Just picked up a 1952 with a vented Poly Choke. Looks to be same age as gun. I understand that you could order them from the factory installed. Some People don't like Poly chokes but I love them. 5 chokes at your fingertips. Can't think of anything better for hunting. Should be cool for some Trap and Skeet as Well. Wild thing is the barrel from the 1952 also fits the 1946 Like a Glove.
 
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