igor
Member
A shooting buddy of mine is having a look at a used Ithaca 37: 8-shot mag, 20", parkerized finish, rifle sights, slam-fire mechanism. Provided it's in OK condition, what would it be worth? Worth the trouble? 
Ithaca 37 DSPS without disconnector
- Thread starter igor
- Start date
- Status
On my part of the planet your looking at about $225 - $250 for the Model 37 your refering to.
This is shotgun country and there are a lot of choices here and the pricing is typically more modest than some other parts of the country.
They are a nice shotgun and built well .
This is shotgun country and there are a lot of choices here and the pricing is typically more modest than some other parts of the country.
They are a nice shotgun and built well .
Badger Arms
Member
That's easilly a $300 gun, maybe more depending on condition. The term "Disconnector" is often misrepresented. "Without Disconnector" actually means the hammer follows the bolt carrier forward but does not fire the gun. "With Disconnector" means that the gun fires when you slide the bolt carrier home. Just because the hammer falls doesn't mean the gun goes off. It's hard to check, but generally if you dry-fire an unloaded gun and then hold the trigger while shucking the action, you will hear a distinct, solid hammer hit at the instant the slide reaches its forward travel. If you have no disconnector, the hammer will fall before the slide is all the way forward, often pushing the action closed but not firing the shell you are loading.
Generally speaking, the DSPS was equipped with a disconnector and is therefore a 'slam-fire' gun. To tell definitively, you have to observe the hammer itself. On the right side of the hammer, there is a projection which engages the disconnector/action lock. My opinion... GET IT at whatever price you can bear. Good gun.
Generally speaking, the DSPS was equipped with a disconnector and is therefore a 'slam-fire' gun. To tell definitively, you have to observe the hammer itself. On the right side of the hammer, there is a projection which engages the disconnector/action lock. My opinion... GET IT at whatever price you can bear. Good gun.
igor
Member
Thank you for the details: I stand corrected. This gun is of the "slam-fire" kind.
igor
Member
Kilrain, costs of transport might get prohibitive as we're in Finland...
Anyhow, my man bought this gun. It's old (he said past 20 years) but in OK condition and he got a decent price. Thanks for your comments, all!
Anyhow, my man bought this gun. It's old (he said past 20 years) but in OK condition and he got a decent price. Thanks for your comments, all!
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
A couple things about the 37....
The design is by John Moses Browning. Originally brought out by Remington as the Model 17 in 20 gauge, Ithaca brought their version out in 1937 after the patents expired.
Like all JMB designs,the 37 is overbuilt.Super rugged but light for the load, they last darn near forever. They shuck very smoothly and fast.
The first martial use of the 37 seems to have been on Guadacanal in WWII. By the time of the Nam Mess, 37s often served point men as good, reliable jungle weapons. Fast, reliable,and the load from the bottom feature meant one less way for mud and detritus to enter the receiver.
By that time, the Deerslayer variant had been introduced. This was the first commercial model slug gun, using a tight bore that was basically full choke all the way. This proved accurate and served well for buck also. The open sights and effectiveness sold lots of 37s.
The design,like many of JMB's,requires tight tolerances and lots of machining. The 37 is not the cheapest pumpgun around. Even with the steel receiver, though it is one of the lightest.
Quality has remained good over the years though some 80s examples made during a time the company went into bankruptcy were rougher.
In the US,$300 will often get you a near new 37 that will last for generations.
The design is by John Moses Browning. Originally brought out by Remington as the Model 17 in 20 gauge, Ithaca brought their version out in 1937 after the patents expired.
Like all JMB designs,the 37 is overbuilt.Super rugged but light for the load, they last darn near forever. They shuck very smoothly and fast.
The first martial use of the 37 seems to have been on Guadacanal in WWII. By the time of the Nam Mess, 37s often served point men as good, reliable jungle weapons. Fast, reliable,and the load from the bottom feature meant one less way for mud and detritus to enter the receiver.
By that time, the Deerslayer variant had been introduced. This was the first commercial model slug gun, using a tight bore that was basically full choke all the way. This proved accurate and served well for buck also. The open sights and effectiveness sold lots of 37s.
The design,like many of JMB's,requires tight tolerances and lots of machining. The 37 is not the cheapest pumpgun around. Even with the steel receiver, though it is one of the lightest.
Quality has remained good over the years though some 80s examples made during a time the company went into bankruptcy were rougher.
In the US,$300 will often get you a near new 37 that will last for generations.
Last edited:
Gunsnrovers
Member
A like new/as new DSPS will get you in the $400 range in California.
Hope your friend enjoys his new shotgun. I love my Ithaca.
1974 DSPS
Hope your friend enjoys his new shotgun. I love my Ithaca.
1974 DSPS
Last edited:
- Status
