Extended mag tube and light for Ithaca 37 featherlight 20" (1968 vintage)

[Warners]

I was going to drop some money on a new gun, but instead of buying another gun and caliber to care and feed, I thought it would make more sense to improve upon one of my existing guns. What better gun to improve upon than the one that I rely on for home defense. I'm talking about my 1968 vintage Ithaca 37 featherlight. This one is the 20" barrel, parkerized finish...basically, the trench gun without the heat shield. The serial number is beyond the 850,000 mark that seems to be the magical number (mine is S/N 1,010,XXX).

My ultimate goal would be to increase capacity with an extended magazine tube, which would ALSO solve my problem of mounting a clamp to the mag tube so I could add a flashlight to the gun.

So my real question is, IS there a longer magazine tube that I can buy for this gun, being a 1968 version of the Ithaca 37? If so, where, how much, and what is involved in making the conversion?

MUCH thanks to those who respond!

Warner

 

[Warners]

I called Ithaca but their service department is gone for the day. So I sent them an email. Meanwhile, I did some searching on Numrich and I think either of THESE might be the part that I need.....but I'll wait for confirmation before I order it....does anyone know for sure?

Thanks,

Warner


This is a 5-shot magazine tube:
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=1346050&catid=12440

This is a 8-shot magazine tube:
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=1346080&catid=12440

 

[Fred Fuller]

Look at how the barrel attaches to the gun... there's more to this than just swapping out a magazine tube.

I suggest you not order anything until you decide whether or not you want to move the barrel lug too...

 

[Warners]

Yeah....I just figured that out. Thanks though....Ah well...

Warner

 

[Gordon]

The factory 5 round capacity is fully useable for ANYTHING (including war!) and there are ways of getting a light on it. the same type band clamps that attach lights to the mag tube can be used on the barrel that is in front of the lug FWIW.

 

[Warners]

The factory 5 round capacity is fully useable for ANYTHING (including war!) and there are ways of getting a light on it. the same type band clamps that attach lights to the mag tube can be used on the barrel that is in front of the lug FWIW.

Yeah, good point. Actually, mine is 3 +1, but like you said, still FINE for it's intended purpose.


Thanks,

Warner

 

[Youngster]

Take the plug out, it'll be 4+1 then.

If you want to extend your magazine you'll have to have a longer 7 shot model tube installed on your reciever, and then buy another 20" barrel intended for use with the long mag tube or have the lug on your barrel relocated. Either way though it would be cheaper to buy another 7+1 Ithaca.

 

[straitnate14]

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=1346080&catid=12440

you can buy a barrel as well, then all you would need is a spring? And the tube? if that is all it would take I might be in the market for another beat up 37 to make into a 3 gun shotgun!

 

[straitnate14]

well I just scored a 37 that has really nice wood and a mod choke barrel. But it has some pitting on the reciever. I'm thinking about swaping the wood over to another 37 I own and keeping the barrel so I can go from ic to mod on the other one and buying a barrel and 7 shot tube for the one I just bought. I got the gun for $125 so it would keep the cost down. What do you think is it worth the work? How hard is it to get the mag tube off?

if I get the gun home and it cleans up ok I will just leave it but we will see tomorrow once I can pick it up

 

[One_Jackal]

You can find lights and mounts for shotguns cheap on ebay. Put masking tape on the place you choose to mount the light. The mounts will damage the finish on a scattergun. The one inch mounts for scope tubes will fit the magazine tube of all 12 gauge pump shotguns.