Old Ithaca 37 with "weird" barrel

[Stillwater97]

Several years ago I picked up an Ithaca 37 from my dad. He received the gun from a guy who literally went crazy and couldn't have fire arms any more.

So... the crazy Ithaca is now mine... The thing about this shotgun is that the barrel is just plain weird.

Its a standard 12 gauge barrel (stamped full) , but it appears that its been modified and that the bore has been widened. (see pictures)

First off.. can I assume that this is not factor?

Second, why would you do this?

Third, I want to hunt with this gun, but the pattern spread is really big in its present form.
The serial number puts manufacture circa 1953. so I need a used barrel. any ideas on where I can pick one up for a decent price?

thanks!

 

[dogtown tom]

It might be a case of "oops I sawed too much off my barrel".

And to correct the possible NFA violation they silver soldered an extension to the original barrel.

 

[ReloaderFred]

That would be my guess, too.

Fred

 

[Deus Machina]

See above. Quick fix before the G-men find out.

Another idea, it could have been a plan to add a choke that didn't work out.

If it was intentional, on a gun that length I would think it may have been made to purposely spread the pattern, for HD.

Odd, but I have to say it appears to be done well.

 

[Nick5182]

Yeah, I think Deus, Fred, and Dogtown got it down. Like Deus said though, if it was intentional, it was probably to be used as a HD shotgun due to the barrel being as short as it is.

Edit: By the way, I read this first without looking at the pictures, and the image of an old musket with the barrel that look like the front end of a trumpet kept going through my mind until I saw the pic. It does look professionally done.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Police/prison shotguns originally with barrels under 18" when sold to civilians at surplus auctions will be found with extensions permanently affixed to legal length.

 

[Stillwater97]

thanks guys!

any idea as to where I might procure a hunting barrel for this shotgun?

 

[4sooth]

Barrel

It will have to go back to the factory--all Ithaca barrels were unique to the receiver they left the factory on. The gun can be fitted with interchangeable barrels at the factory but you will no longer be able to use your present one.

 

[oneounceload]

You might pattern the gun to see what it actually does, possibly it could be tapped for chokes by Briley or someone in lieu of trying to get another barrel

 

[Milkmaster]

Looks like you could sell it to a movie studio as a shotgun with a silencer!

Seriously, 37's from that vintage were made with hand fittied barrels up to the 1970's. You could contact Ithaca to see if they could fit another barrel for you.

 

[Stillwater97]

hmmm..

I wonder if a custom choke tube would work...? That would be a really quick pointing upland gun if it could hold a decent pattern.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If it was intentional, on a gun that length I would think it may have been made to purposely spread the pattern, for HD

I can't imagine wanting more spread than cylinder bore. My 19" M-11 gives 8" patterns with 4 buck at 7 yards. 7" patterns with 0 buck.

 

[natman]

It will have to go back to the factory--all Ithaca barrels were unique to the receiver they left the factory on. The gun can be fitted with interchangeable barrels at the factory but you will no longer be able to use your present one.

That's true for early 37s, before serial # 855000. Later Ithacas can interchange barrels.


Try the classifieds at www.shotgunworld.com

http://www.corsonsbarrels.com/