Ithaca 37 finds new life

[Lawyerman]

I bought an Ithaca 37 the other day. When I saw it on the rack it had a 30" barrel on it, full choke. Wood is good, finish about 75% or so. Unfortunately, someone had shot a bunch of slugs in it. One of those split the barrel from the muzzle back through the bead about 1 1/2".

I bought the gun, took it home, got out the tubing cutter and whacked off the barrel at 18.5". Local gunsmith installed a Raybar front site for $12, bead was used but who cares?

Gun was at a pawn shop, out the door for $48.55. Not a bad old blaster for $60!

 

[kudu]

Can't beat that.

 

[Slimjim]

I just shot 21 twice in a row last night with a 37, 20 gauge, full choke. Guns older than me and shoots GREAT.

 

[Dave McCracken]

That's the deal of the year. $60 for a Cinderella Ithaca. Let us know how it shoots, but I probably already know....

 

[Lawyerman]

Plan on taking it to the range this weekend. I have a bunch of odds and ends of buckshot left over from experiments and classes and some old #2's to shoot up. May try some slugs too just to see where it shoots them.

Sombody gave me a 5 gallon bucket full of Remington #2's, 2 3/4 magnums the other day, lead shot. Old goose loads, with steel shot the law now they are about worthless other than for Turkeys and I don't shoot Turkeys with a scattergun. Should make some good blasting/testing fodder. Bucket is overflowing, a pretty good haul really. I am a sucker for free ammo.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Wow, that is a great story. Congratulations on the find.

 

[kudu]

Lawerman, those 2's would be a great home defense round IMO. Give them a try at the pattern board and see how they do. You may be surprised at how well they do. Penetration would be good, but wouldn't go through walls very well.

They would also be great if you varmint hunt at night for fox or coyotes out to about 50+ yards with the proper choke.

 

[Lawyerman]

Hadn't thought about varmint blasting with them. I do some coyote hunting at nite, may give them a try.

As far as home defense I will stick with fresh ammo. This stuff has been stored in a garage where temps varied alot and it got pretty darn hot at times I'm sure. They are at least 15 years old I would guess. I am sure it will all go bang but it's a chance I am more willing to take on a four legged coyote than a two legged one!

 

[Dave McCracken]

Those 2 shot short mags are good nute loads, too.

This Cinderella 37 may qualify for restoration. New blue, or maybe one of the after market finishes, refinish the wood, etc. I'm no fan of the Pimp My Shotgun fad, but this is cheap enough where investing a bit more can be profitable.

Heck, threading the barrel for tubes might make this more of an all rounder to boot. A short barreled 37 in the quail thickets or grouse alders is pure lightning.

BTW, I recently saw a pair of 37s on the other end of the spectrum, pricewise. They had been made for President Eisenhower, a 20 and either a 12 or 16. Heavily engraved and inlaid, full coverage receivers, 25% coverage on the barrels, and marblecake walnut sculpted by the reincarnation of Phydias.

On sale at a good price, just $28,000 for the pair. Never fired, not even ever pumped.....

 

[Little Loudmouth]

[voice of despair]
Why does everyone else get these deals? Why not me? Why, cruel world, why?
[voice of despair/]

Seriously, great find!