Ithaca 37 question

[RainDodger]

Howdy, guys - my next door neighbor came over with his very old, family-passed-down, Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight. He is not an experienced shooter.

He thought the gun was malfunctioning at the trap range. It fired when he closed the slide.... now, I'm familiar with Winchesters of that period like my Model 12, and it will fire all day if you hold the trigger down when you close the action. I looked at his Ithaca and I think it's designed to work the same way.

Just to be sure, can someone confirm that for me? Will the Ithaca fire if you hold the trigger down when closing the action?

Thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, the earlier Model 37 had no trigger disconnector, and will fire if you hold the trigger back while closing the slide.

Nothing wrong with his gun.
There might be something wrong with his gun handling at the trap range though.

Rc

 

[barnbwt]

Yup, the older Ithaca trigger packs are functionally identical to a machine gun's. Safety/auto sear and everything

Just don't go hooking the slide up to a Bang-System gas trap, now, ya'hear?

TCB

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

Carried one every day for 30 years in my patrol car. It's a fine shotgun.

 

[Fiv3r]

The others have nailed the answer to the question. I just have to chime in as to how nice those old Ithaca 37s handle. A good friend sold me his for a song a few years back. Balanced, quick to shoulder, and butter smooth. While I don't really see a need to slam fire it, it's kinda fun to pump 7 rounds of bird shot down range (safely) from time to time

I think I would pick my 37 over any other long arm in my collection.

 

[HexHead]

Ithaca made a change in the late 70s to lose that capability.

 

[lemaymiami]

I never knew that about the model 37.... and I thought I knew a bit about poppers. This thread and those like it are why I keep coming back to THR... thanks

 

[DM~]

I thought "poppers" were battered, deep fried jalapenos with a cheese filling?? Now "I'm" lost...

DM

 

[RainDodger]

Thanks, guys! (all except the "Rube" up there at the beginning. Personally, I don't know anyone that "insist(s) on slam firing shotguns like you are Eliot Ness"). To explain the question a little more, my neighbor was WORRIED that it was unsafe, so he asked me about it. Not being familiar with a 37, I thought I'd ask the collective. He hadn't shot that gun in a few decades and couldn't remember.

Regarding the handling of this shotgun - I was really impressed when I picked it up. It points really nicely and I can see that it was once a beautiful gun. There's no blue left on the receiver now, but there's visible engraving on both sides.

At the same time he brought the 37 over, he brought a Winchester Model 12 (I think it's a 1932 manufacture)... he had told me it had "3 chokes"... well, he has 3 complete barrel assemblies with different choked barrels and yes, all the serial numbers match. Kind of a nice little set to have.

Thanks again - you guys have a great Thanksgiving.

 

[kBob]

Later 37 with that feature were given the designator DS.

The 8 shot riot model with the rife sights and bright orange-ish red front sight was fun to use with that feature when engaging multiple targets in room clearing, whether anyone else approves or not........I prefer a 1928 series Thompson when playing Eliot Ness.

Hmm, Robert Stack was a big time shot gunner, I wonder.......

-kBob

 

[RainDodger]

Robert Stack was for sure... I think he was on the U.S. Olympic team or something like that.

 

[moxie]

Always lusted after the 37, but couldn't afford one. Feather light, downward ejecting, beautiful handling, crazy luminous front sight perfect on foggy fall days. In college borrowed my buddy's whenever I could.

 

[lemaymiami]

DM... sorry for the slang. For guys like me that had to check in and out beaten up old rack grade shotguns (Mossberg or Remington) every day on duty... We called them thumpers or poppers -making light of their true purpose. From what I've been reading about the Ithaca, it must be a great shotgun for the close quarters work that most riot guns are used in.

 

[243winxb]

Vintage Ithaca 37

High primers (reloads) may be set off when shell flys out of tube hitting receiver. My old 16ga would fire if holding the trigger. It would also drop the 2nd shell on the ground* after firing the first shell, while working the action and load the 3th shell. The 12ga would not feed from the tube 100% of the time with reloads. I dont miss my 37s. http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=320894&p=2805277

 

[drcook]

High primers (reloads) may be set off when shell flys out of tube hitting receiver. My old 16ga would fire if holding the trigger. It would also drop the 2nd shell on the grould after firing the first shell, while working the action and load the 3th shell. The 12ga would not feed from the tube 100% of the time with reloads. I dont miss my 37s.

Very easy to fix. Very. This issue is due to 1 of 4 issues.

1. The gun is dirty. The spring shell stop works on a pivot and has a small spring in behind it. If the channel/pivot etc get gummed up, it affects the functioning of the shell stop.

2. The spring shell stop needs slightly bent/adjusted.

3. The little spring needs replaced as it has lost its spring and taken a set.

4. There was a design change to the magazine tube that happened due to cost cutting. You can tell these magazine tubes because there is a roll crimp back by the receiver, instead of a solid tube with an insert pressed in. The roll crimped tubes allowed an extra.030 overall slop into the mechanism, making the adjustment of the shell stops very critical. I have a post on here and ShotgunWorld where I have machined an insert to correct the slop. However, I have accumulated enough new old stock, and or used mag tubes to replace them on all my Ithacas that have the new design.

The Ithaca 37 is a very simple design, that works via mechanical cams and motions throughout the travel.

If a person does not maintain them, or simply stuff accumulates behind the parts, this can happen. Every Ithaca 37 that is on the older side needs a good cleaning every once in a while and the left side shell stop spring replaced.

The best thing folks can do is take off the buttstock and get some Gunsmith in a Can, ie: BrakeCleaner and spray the inside of the receiver out and let it drain, and then relube sparingly.

 

[DougW]

My grandfather used a 37 for years. He bought a very used one that would fire without holding the trigger when cycling the action. Kinda interesting, but it was so worn that it was not safe. He gave it back to the owner.

 

[USAF_Vet]

On a side note, if anyone ever manufactures a bullpup kit for the Ithaca 37, I'd be the first in line. The bullpup kits for the Rem 870 and Moss 500 are cool and all for a HD compact 12 gauge, but the bottom ejecting Ithaca makes it a viable option for lefties. Kinda drooling at the thought of an 8 shot mag tube, 20" barrel, bottom ejecting bullpup coming in at arounf 28" OAL.

 

[Kingcreek]

drcook makes a good point. a gunked up trigger can stick in the fire position and cause firing when chambering. I had that happen while pheasant hunting in freezing rain one time 40 years ago.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Many, many years ago we lowly trap boys would watch in amazement while one of the older gents at the club would shoot doubles with his pump. He'd slam fire the second shot.
We just thought that was so cool...

 

[Speedo66]

The only problem with the older M37's was the barrels had to be fitted at the factory. If you wanted to add barrels it required a trip back for the gun. Later models had interchangeable barrels. Don't know if the current owners, if still in business, will provide that service.

Not sure if the original thin barrels were thick enough for screw in chokes.

 

[drcook]

1. They are still in business, however they are here in Ohio

2. No, they won't "fit" an old thread pattern receiver with a new barrel, they will install an insert to let new barrels be used. However the old barrel won't work anymore and the service is way to expensive (in my opinion)

3. For the most part, makers of thin wall tubes can install tubes in most old Ithacas. Briley (company, proprietary tubes) Mike Orlen (gunsmith, Colonial Arms pattern) and Kirby the Gunsmith (gunsmith, proprietary tubes) can do them.

I know different folks that have had their old guns tubed.

I have a 1949 solid rib 16ga gun that also has a 1970's era vent rib, screw in choke barrel fitted to it. It is a cool gun.

I really think the current iteration of Ithaca Gun is really missing the boat on this by not accommodating folks with older guns.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Just picked up a first year 3 Digit 1937 Ithaca 37T:

 

[drcook]

There are some folks over in the Ithaca forum that would mug you for that gun !

Just kidding (maybe not ). You have good taste in firearms.

How about going over and joining Shotgun World and put your pictures and a writeup about your gun in the Ithaca section. The folks would sure appreciate it.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=59

dc