Ithaca 37 questions

Status
Not open for further replies.
Thanks for the info on 37's, it's very useful. I picked up a featherlite deerslayer today, 12 gauge, w 2 3/4 chamber, serial number in the range 37155--- (not hiding the number, can't remember, sorry); it's got a beautiful walnut stock, possibly hand checkering, and it looks like the bolt is jeweled and trigger and slide release polished or chrome. It has deep blueing, a red pistol grip cap w a browning type deer logo and deerslayer type rifle sights, w rear sight on barrel. It looks like a scope mount has been added to receiver. Anything you could tell me about this one? Thanks again
 
Last edited:
Howdy -

This is my first post here, but I certainly enjoy reading about some of these fine guns.

I'm 66 years old and have been around Ithaca shotguns for a while - I have my grandfather's side-by-side Ithaca Flues 12 ga, my father's 1940 Model 37 12 ga and the 1961 Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight Premium that my parents gave me when I was 17 years old and it's in nearly new condition with a 28" barrel changed to IC by the factory before shipping only because my father thought the 28" barrel might provide a better sight length for wing shooting. It's the only Ithaca I've ever seen that has "I CYL" stamped over "MOD".

Anyway, I thought some of you might enjoy a story and some pictures of the 1940 12 ga M37. Along with some other guns, my father gave me his M37 shortly before he died in 2001. It was completely disassembled, with all of the action parts in a plastic sandwich bag. It looked quite nice and I told him I would like to put it back together and shoot it, but he warned me it probably wasn't any good - and that it was missing some parts. So, for the past 10 years it sat untouched, with me not wanting to give it away for nothing, with the words "no good" a constant reminder every time I looked at it.

A couple of weeks ago, I had some extra time for messin' 'round and decided to try to assemble the gun and see what it needed. If you've never disassembled and assembled an M37, I can promise that it's an assembly puzzle - but it can be done. I rubbed the action parts with some emory cloth to remove any wear edges, oiled the parts and put it back together to find there were NO missing parts at all.... they were all there. Certain there would be a problem, I loaded the magazine and was amazed to find it shucked shells perfectly. So, all that was left was to shoot it - and I did.......

All I can say is WOW! This old 30" Full Choke beauty is the best mounting, smoothest swinging, crispest shooting, slickest and best sounding action I have ever shot..... and I have some nice shotguns. This one is nearly perfect........ but I keep wondering why he told me that it was no good. Was it because he took it apart and couldn't figure out how to reassemble it and didn't want to admit it? Dunno, but it was taken down many years ago, because I don't remember him shooting it after about 1950 - and at least 4 of those years between 1940 and 1950 were spent in WWII - so the gun has seen little use. Here are a few pictures - all original finish, but with signs of a butt pad that melted a little finish and a scratch on one side of the butt stock - I did replace the shrunken butt plate and grip cap with newer Ithaca replacements:

007.jpg

008.jpg

009.jpg

010.jpg

011.jpg

012.jpg

Frank
 
Last edited:
Before long, I do need to start selling my guns. My wife won't know what to do with them when I'm gone and my 2 daughters and their husbands aren't really into guns (there's always hope, I suppose).

I put this one back together to get everything ready to sell at a local gun show, but every time I try to decide which to sell first, I get aggravated and walk away from them...... too many memories of younger days, I suppose. This old girl makes me want to get in a canoe on a cold foggy morning, float down a blackwater river and jump shoot some ducks getting up under overhanging live oaks dripping with Spanish moss....... probably not a great idea at my age, eh?

In addition to the Ithacas, I have a Super-X Model 1 (favorite dove/duck gun) a Nikko O/U skeet/skeet (favorite quail gun), an unfired Winchester Ranger 120 20ga w/choke set, several rifles including a sporterized 1903-A3, a Winchester Model 62A, like new Model 74, a like new Remington 572 in Crow Wing Black and several pistols, including an all original Colt M1911A1 in good condition that has never seen an arsenal for rework.

They're not the most collectible guns, but damned if I don't like them and I find it really hard to try to place a value on any of them.

Where would I begin to find a fair valuation on the one pictured?

Frank
 
Last edited:
This gun has collector value, but it is not a museum piece.

It is not a first year and the stock finish is marred.

As a shooter it is worth about $250, because there are so many Ithaca's out there.

Because it is pre WWII and in very good condition you might be able to get $450-$500 for it, if you find the right buyer who wants a pre-WWII Ithaca.
 
In the very early 70's, I bought an Ithaca 66 Super Single in 20 gauge.... my first shotgun. It was chambered for 3" and because of it's super light weight, it was punishing. On the plus side, it was lethal on upland game birds, geese, and ducks. The gun was so light, I had no problem pulling up quickly.

When I was in a little better financial shape, a couple of years later, I bought a 37 featherlite 12 gauge with a 30" ribbed full choke barrel and a 28" I.C. barrel. It wasn't chambered for magnums, but it's been good to me for nearly 40 years. I've still got the 66 and like to use it on grouse.
 
As a shooter it is worth about $250, because there are so many Ithaca's out there.

Because it is pre WWII and in very good condition you might be able to get $450-$500 for it, if you find the right buyer who wants a pre-WWII Ithaca.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much! Would it be prudent to do a nice stock refinish, or would it be a waste of time for monetary return?

Frank
 
Refinishing the stock would make the value go down!

The value to the collector is enhanced by the beautiful stock (checkering up to a point above the grip and the nice pump handle)

Note, a military and police in excellent condition just sold for over $900, but those are relatively rare.

Your Ithaca is really nice, I would hold on to it and enjoy it. It would be hard to find one as nice.

Frank Vallone of Sycamore Hill Designs or Les Hovencamp could give it a good cleaning and a tune up

Remember, do not squirt gun oil into the back of the action and let it drip into the butt

Also, it takes a square socket wrench to get the stock bolt out and many old stocks are cracked by over tightening the stock bolt.
 
Looking at a picture, hung in my office of my Dad, 2 older brothers and me. We had just finished a pheasant hunt in Southern Kansas. We're all on one knee with our limit on the ground in front and one hand on our trusty Ithicas. I was 14. It was a good day. Everytime I pick up that ol' shotgun, lot of memories come back.
 
Thought you folks might enjoy seeing another M37.

Here's the Model 37 20ga Featherlight that my parents gave me for my 17th Christmas in 1961. I call it a "Premium" model, because it has the finger-groove slide stock and a Raybar sight. I'm not sure that "Premium" is the proper designation, but I don't see too many with that foregrip. I would prefer the cut checkering like the buttstock grip, but this is what it came with. I "think" this one is also a bit unusual in that my father (an Ithaca dealer at the time) had the factory change the standard 28" modified barrel to a 28" improved cylinder, with the idea it would give a young shooter a little longer sight line and perhaps improve his accuracy. I doubt the reality of that, since I never see any sights when wing-shooting - not even the Raybar sight. Anyway, you can see "I.CYL" over-stamped on "MOD" in one of the pictures.

This gun has killed a bunch of quail and doves, but she's all original. Every time I look at it, I can hear my father's advice that if I take care of it, it'll take care of me.

IMG_5297.jpg

IMG_5298.jpg

IMG_5299.jpg

IMG_5300.jpg

IMG_5301.jpg

IMG_5302.jpg

IMG_5304.jpg

IMG_5305.jpg

Can anyone help me with a value? Thanks for all the help!

Frank
 
Thanks, Bushmaster -

Nobody will get this one for that price - until after I'm gone.

Frank
 
I see that $450 one has no checkering, no grip cap and does not have the grooves at the intersection of the comb and pistol grip. I suspect it's not an original stock, but I don't know for sure. Even my grandfather's field grade Flues model made in 1924 has a grip cap.

Thanks.

Frank
 
Ithaca 37

Recently purchased a model 37. Looks real nice, feels even better kind of like it was made for me to hold. Love the bottom eject but wish it had greater round capacity. As is it holds 4 rounds in the mag and one chambered for a total of 5 shot. Wish it was more like 7+1 or even 5+1.

I thought about spending a couple of hundred bucks to hae it changed for larger round capacity but decided to leave it stock.

Otherwise I really like the looks and feel of this fine shotgun. By the way I contacted Ithaca and they told me it's made in 1985.
 
After finding a 1964 parts list, I'll correct myself on the M37 stock. It appears that a smooth stock WAS available with no grip cap and comb grooves. The stock like mine with cut checkering, grip cap and comb grooves was referred to as the "old style" and cost more money - as did the beavertail foregrip with finger grooves.

My reference to a "premium" model seems more likely to be what this ad refers to as "Deluxe":

http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/ggardenour/ST64449.jpg

Here's a 1957 - more like mine (but with solid-ribbed barrel) - priced at $995:

http://www.gunsinternational.com/ITHACA-FEATHERLIGHT-MODEL-37R-20-Ga-.cfm?gun_id=100129275

Frank
 
Last edited:
Ithaca 37

Hello
I am new to the posts but I have been reading them for a long time.
I just purchased an Ithaca 37 serial# starting with ult-137187 and I am trying to figure out the model. It has the duck scene on the reciever checkered stock and forearm and a gold trigger. I believe that it was made in 84 based on the serial number but the model has me stumped. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Great fun to read this loooong thread. I knew when I saw that it had sparked over 700 responses that there were a lot of folk out there who appreciate the elegant and durable Ithaca 37.
Kinda makes me wonder about why so many opt for the 870 (certainly a fine pump gun...but it ain't a 37.) when there are so many used Ithacas on the gun racks.
The other pump that I lust after (one of these days) is a BPS in 28 gauge.
Pete
 
Just finished reading this thread, after buying a M37 for $75 today. Appears to be a 1969 manufacture, has some rust but the stock is nice and it should clean up pretty good. It has an aftermarket adjustable choke on it. I've never seen this before. Anyway for $75 I didn't think I could go wrong.
 
Pitt, The ULT prefix stands for ultralight. These guns have an aluminum alloy receiver instead of the standard steel.

A 12 ga would be about 6 pounds and a 20 ga would be about 5 pounds.

SP
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
Ithaca Model 37
Replies
2
Views
490
afish4570
A
I
  • Locked
Model 37 Ithaca Question
Replies
3
Views
602
Black_Talon
B
A
  • Locked
Ithaca 37 deerslayer
Replies
14
Views
1K
chas08
chas08
A
  • Locked
1970s Ithaca Model 37 12 gauge Question
Replies
4
Views
2K
A_Matthew
A
T
  • Locked
Ithaca 37
Replies
3
Views
576
TNT
T
Back
Top