Ghetto Ithaca Restored!!!

[Badger Arms]

Sorry about all of these pictures. I hope that TheHighRoad doesn't ban me, but I thought this was cool. This poor Ghetto Ithaca walked up to me at a gun show and followed me home. I cleaned up the rust, recut and crowned barrel (19" to 18 5/16"), detail stripped and cleaned it, and installed an extra stock I had sitting around. Still left to do: Dress up the muzzle a bit, install a large bead, and refinish the buttstock to match the fore-end. Enjoy the pictures.

Yes, by the way, the bolt holding the old 'stock' on was tight in the picture. Sad. Also note the chatter marks from the hacksaw and the lack of dressing after the 'gangsta' cut this gun off. It was crooked also by about 1/8" although it might not be obvious by the pictures.

 

[Badger Arms]

another pic

 

[Feanaro]

It would be great if it weren't cut to bits. I'd like to hurt the person that cut it to peices.

I hope you have success with the restoration.

 

[Badger Arms]

a third pic

 

[Badger Arms]

a fourth pic, bear with me, I'll combine them all so you don't have to download them.

 

[Badger Arms]

okay, first pic of restored gun

 

[Warner]

Love 37's.

This one's "before" pic looks like an evidence photo! - lol.

Glad it found a good home.

 

[Badger Arms]

second pic of new gun. note the rust is gone.

 

[Badger Arms]

final picture.

 

[Feanaro]

Well, it's starting to look good again.

 

[Braz]

Cool project BA

 

[ajacobs]

I love to see these things salvaged. I did a similar resturation to an 870 not long ago. I had a vr barrel to deal with though and they had sprayed it with paint. It is fun to work on shotguns as that is something I can handle on my own and make a drastic improvement. Not to mention I have a huge box of 870 parts. It came out so good I almost want to have it profesionaly rebluded or parkerized which I have put off as it will be more than the gun cost but I am thinking it would be worth it.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Kudoes on restoring that 37 to use. What did you use on the rust?

 

[Badger Arms]

What did you use on the rust?

Saturated the whole gun with break-free and let it set a while. I then sprayed it down with action blaster and used steel wool to take the rust off. I was surprised it came off that easy. There was no pitting to speak of anywhere. The inside of the action is easy to clean. I simply sprayed some break free in there and let it set a while. Then I took patches and a brush and brushed the patches into all the nooks and cranies. This takes all of the gunk and excess break-free out of there. I've got a tornado brush to do the bore (which was expecially dirty). I'm still excited about it. I want to get that bead on there quick and finish the butt to match the fore-end. Itching to get to it...

 

[natedog]

It reminds me of a stray puppy that's been given a warm bed and plenty of food.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

nice

It's always nice to see someone bring back something nice like from the dark side.

That came out well.

Jeff

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, Badger. Once you get to the range with this, I'd like to know how you and it do. My guess, you'll be grinning like a possum!

 

[Badger Arms]

The Ithaca's often have a binding problem where the feeding forks bind on the inside of the receiver and make the gun harder to cycle. This is true about 50% of the time and it really makes the gun feel bad. I fit the forks by judiciously squeezing them in until there is just enough interference with the side of the receiver to prevent them from rattling. This makes the action silky smooth. The main problem I have is with short-stroking. Like any other shotgun, you have to work the action with some bit of authority but not too much as to break the gun.

As for a range report, I can't imagine it'll perform any different than the three other guns I have set-up the same way!!!

 

[foghornl]

Good looking restore job, Badger. Couldn't figure out why all the Duct Tape in the first couple of pix, though, 'till I got down to the pic where you had removed the tape.

ONE shot with it that way would be more than enough, I would think....

 

[firestar]

I have a 37 Featherlight once. I think that may have been the only gun I have ever worn out, I got it used from my dad who beats on his guns and I used it to hunt and shoot trap and skeet for years before I sold it for $90 at a gunshow. I don't know if I regret selling it or not, it was a fine gun that felt alive in my hands but it was tired. It had a 28" bbl with polychoke. I shot slugs out of it and I didn't care.

I think Ithacas are fragile. They are well made but not very well designed, I don't think I would buy another one. I bought a new 870 HD and I think it might outlast me.

It is nice to see you turned that beater into a decent gun again. It reminds me of taking a hooker off the streets and giving her a bath and a makeover.

 

[RandKL]

Well, I like pistol grips. Always have. Made a few here and there, bought more than a few. Even learned how to make birdshead Speedfeed pistol grips when they screwed the pooch on so many Mossy grips these past years. Currently have five. Three are on guns, two are on canes. Yeah, I invented the pistol grip walking stick with an ATI Thompson-style grip on an inch and a quarter diam maple stick.

Me, personally, I can't stand folks who try to hunt with pistols. More game has been tortured and maimed with pistols than any other type of firearm. But raise that topic among pistol hunters and see how quick you get cussed.

I guess to each his own, as they say.

Keep cutting your stocks, Bill. Do with your equipment what you want. It's yours. Chances are, I did the same thing a few times. I enjoy customizing, too.

Ahhhh, what the hell. I have a Mossy stock that has a few inches of water stain on it. I think I'll cut it just for fun.

richard

 

[ssjones]

My first shotgun was a Model 37. I traded it to a buddy for a .22 rifle.....
He still has it.
Nice save!

 

[Badger Arms]

Zombie Thread!!!

Raised from the dead. I sold the gun a while after it was restored.

 

[RandKL]

Ewwwww damn!

Sorry, Badge! My bad.

rich

 

[kmrcstintn]

nice restore...the chopped stock-pistol grip thingy made me cringe

I kinda did the opposite with an older mossberg C-select choke barrel -- I couldn't find any security barrels in stock anywhere for my Mossberg 500 and a local shop had an old (and well rusted on the outside) barrel that they shortened, crowned, rebeaded, and installed a sling stud to fit my needs...not bad for $50; the deeper, well established rust is here to stay, but I cut the new stuff with Hoppes 9 and smoothed the surface with J-B bore cleaner/polish