37 vs 870

[Skofnung]

I like 'em both, but I prefer the Ithaca. It just seems to fit me better for some reason.

If you want to play the tactical lego game, then the 870 is the way to go.

If you want a simple, slick home defense rig, then an Ithaca DS Police Special is a great choice.

 

[John Peddie]

Ithaca in Canada?

Slightly off topic, sorry.

I can't figure out how to start a new thread or I would. So I'll try here, just in case.

I've e-mailed the "New" Ithaca folks twice over the last three months asking if they have Canadian dealers / distributors-no replies.

Don't even think of importing / ordering one from a US dealer. Illegal under US law for me to buy, as far as I know, and even more likely under Canadian law to try to get it here.

It's just that I have a 1958 vintage Model 37-what a used Mercedez dealer would call "pre-adored"-and it's time for a younger brother.

Anyone know of Canadian sources for new Ithacas?

 

[bowfin]

The new Ithaca manufacturers are taking a "slow but sure" method in ramping up for manufacture and distribution.

Their website says that they are not selling to distributors and dealers until their guns are 100% made of new parts that they themselves have manufactured, they don't intend to mix "new old stock" parts into these guns. I am not sure the previous Ithaca guys were as meticulous as the new manufacturers, but the new guys are basically mold makers, and mold tolerances make standard firearm tolerances look awfully big, and they seem to strike me as a persnickety bunch and perfectionists, which is okay by me.

I am not sure as how what parts are available on ebay is relevant. Probably not a lot of Deusenberg auto parts on there, either, but that wouldn't dissuade me from trading my Buick AND the Dodge for one.

In the end, a single load of shot from one shell passes through a specific choke and comes out only one barrel of that particular shotgun you have to your shoulder, so whether some place has 64 varieties of barrels and 132 choke tubes or none for your gun, it won't be a factor for that shot, because eventually you have to boil every choice down to one when it comes time to pull the trigger.

Somehow, the LAPD was able to muddle through with the Ithaca M37 in every squad car for close to 50 years as a "tactical" (whatever that means) shotgun, as well as some guys in Vietnam. Of course, none of these guys ever had to shoot in some sort of "tactical" shotgun course, they just shot bad guys, so they might not have even been aware of their handicap!

I have some of each types of shotguns, but I just have a preference for Ithaca M37s. They just carry and feel nice.

 

[Black_Talon]

Ithaca in Canada?


I've e-mailed the "New" Ithaca folks twice over the last three months asking if they have Canadian dealers / distributors-no replies.

I just had a long conversation last week with the previous Ithaca Canada distributor and he said people are sort of hesitant to undertake becoming a Canadian distributor until Ithaca starts shipping product and building a wholesaler base in the US. IOW, "don't hold your breath".

Aren't there any used M37's floating around in Canada? I know there's plenty of M37 parts up there, I buy 'em all the time.

 

[Black_Talon]

I am not sure the previous Ithaca guys were as meticulous as the new manufacturers, but the new guys are basically mold makers, and mold tolerances make standard firearm tolerances look awfully big, and they seem to strike me as a persnickety bunch and perfectionists, which is okay by me.

I've heard the exact same thing about the new Ithaca guys. The nice thing about CAD/CAM is that they can hold tight tolerances without seriously impacting the cost of the parts. Since these guys are mold-makers, they're already experienced with manufacturing high quality tooling, so it shouldn't be too big of a deal to port that experience over to new Ithaca parts.

 

[John Peddie]

Ithaca in Canada (part 2)

Black Talon

More parts than you could shake a stick at, especially if you're talking about Sharp's Guns in Dunnville ON.

Mr. Sharp worked on my 37 a few years ago, and was associated with Ithaca in one of its former incarnations, but last time I talked to him, had no interest in becoming a dealer or distributor.

US folks may not understand that

1) There are WAY fewer guns per capita in Canada than in the US. About one per person in US, and one per 4-5 people in Canada-and I'm talking men, women and infants.

2) Combine that with our restrictive guns laws, dealer licensing, paperwork and difficulty selling privately, and the used gun market is very small. If you think California is bad, try here!

40 years ago, you could walk into a gun store and have at least a chance of finding a used one, but that's been gone for years in my experience.

So I guess I'll just have to bide my time, and hope that someone will step up to the plate.