Ithaca m37

[357_]

I recently found 2 old Ithaca m37's in a storage container my mother in law owned. They belonged to her late husband, he has left us all quite the collection of firearms. So far we've got a Colt AR-15 sp1 s/n in the first 1500~ released that has never been fired. A m1903 with m82 scope. A m1 Garand. A U.S. Marshal engraved Colt SAA and a bunch of other little things. So far everything has been cleaned except the shotguns. They are as follows.

1) 12ga. Police Special

2) 16ga 26-28"?

Both are in very rough shape. They have a LOT of surface rust. Is it possible to just take the wood off them and let them sit in something like diesel to wear the rust off? The action on the police special is incredibly smooth still, I'd like to get it back to working order and looking as nice as it can.

 

[Milkmaster]

Some are going to say to use steel wool. I am suggesting you use BRONZE wool instead. You can get it at hardware stores. The bronze wool will not scratch whatever finish is left under the rust after you get it off. I would disassemble the gun and spray them down with Breakfree CLP. Re wet them every day or so for a few days to let the rust soak up the Breakfree. Then go to work with the bronze wool. Patience is a virtue here. Don't become impatient and try to do this in a day. scrub and then resoak for a while. I would use a shotgun cleaning brush on a drill motor or steel wool on a drill motor to polish up the bore.

M37's are not hard to disassemble, but they are not as easy as say an 870. Know what you are doing and they go back together in about 5 minutes.

Show us some before and after pictures when you are finished