Older Ithaca 37 Barrels Interchangable ????

[Fishingted]

I Now have two Vintage Model 37 Ithaca Pump shotgun. Acording to the serial numbers the Oldest one is a 1946 with a modified choked barrel. The second one I bought at a gun show this last weekend. It is a 1952 with a vented poly choked barrel. So I have heard a lot about the 37 barrels either being interchangable or not. I had heard the older models were actually fitted at the factory and were not interchangable. These barrels also were serial numbered to match the receivers. Which is the case with both of these guns. The 1952 model is also mark featherlight on the barrel and the 1946 is not. So what the heck I figured I might as well try to switch them to see if they would work. Here is where things got a little strange. The barrel from the 1952 easily went onto perfectly to the 1946 model receiver like butter. I am thinking cool!!! Then I tried the 1946 barrel onto the 1952 receiver and to my surprise it would absolutely NOT Fit at all. And I wasn't going to try and force. I forget the serial number where they say that the barrels become interchangable after. One thing I learned is that if I wanted to by a second barrel for my 37s I would definatly have to have the receiver there to check it out for sure. So Online buying would be out of the question for me anyway. Unless I had a trusted gunsmith to help me out. Just my experiance. Yours may Differ.

 

[I6turbo]

Interchangeable barrels started during 1963 with SN 855000. It is very rare to have an early barrel that hasn't been fitted to the receiver in question fit properly. I've seen some collectors post that they had several pre-855000 barrels and tried them on several other pre-855000 receivers and none of them had a proper fit. It's not just a matter of having the barrel turn into the receiver, but also having the relationship to the bolt be correct.

Your '46 model could possibly be a unique gun. Civilian gun production started again at Ithaca Gun Company in 1946 following the end of WWII. When the government shut down most 12 gauge shotgun production and had Ithaca start producing military weapons, Ithaca had a lot of in-process parts that went into storage. At the start of production in 1946 they used up these parts and then switched to some new/different production practices for some components. Some of the '46 guns that had the pre-war parts are considered highly collectible.

BTW, here's my '52 model.

 

[Fishingted]

Interchangeable barrels started during 1963 with SN 855000. It is very rare to have an early barrel that hasn't been fitted to the receiver in question fit properly. I've seen some collectors post that they had several pre-855000 barrels and tried them on several other pre-855000 receivers and none of them had a proper fit. It's not just a matter of having the barrel turn into the receiver, but also having the relationship to the bolt be correct.

Your '46 model could possibly be a unique gun. Civilian gun production started again at Ithaca Gun Company in 1946 following the end of WWII. When the government shut down most 12 gauge shotgun production and had Ithaca start producing military weapons, Ithaca had a lot of in-process parts that went into storage. At the start of production in 1946 they used up these parts and then switched to some new/different production practices for some components. Some of the '46 guns that had the pre-war parts are considered highly collectible.

BTW, here's my '52 model.
View attachment 996403

Thanks for that VERY Intersesting Info. My 46 or my 52 are not as pretty as your 52 but are Cool in their own way. I would have thought that 46 barrel would have fit the 52 seeing the 52 barrel fit the 46 so easily. I mean it was like it was made for it!!!'

 

[Fishingted]

Interchangeable barrels started during 1963 with SN 855000. It is very rare to have an early barrel that hasn't been fitted to the receiver in question fit properly. I've seen some collectors post that they had several pre-855000 barrels and tried them on several other pre-855000 receivers and none of them had a proper fit. It's not just a matter of having the barrel turn into the receiver, but also having the relationship to the bolt be correct.

Your '46 model could possibly be a unique gun. Civilian gun production started again at Ithaca Gun Company in 1946 following the end of WWII. When the government shut down most 12 gauge shotgun production and had Ithaca start producing military weapons, Ithaca had a lot of in-process parts that went into storage. At the start of production in 1946 they used up these parts and then switched to some new/different production practices for some components. Some of the '46 guns that had the pre-war parts are considered highly collectible.

BTW, here's my '52 model.
View attachment 996403

That is one Great Looking 37 For sure.

 

[I6turbo]

Thanks for that VERY Intersesting Info. My 46 or my 52 are not as pretty as your 52 but are Cool in their own way. I would have thought that 46 barrel would have fit the 52 seeing the 52 barrel fit the 46 so easily. I mean it was like it was made for it!!!'

Are you able to post a photo of your '46? Just wondering if it has wrap-around checkering on the stock? What forearm does it have -- is it like CoalCrackerAL posted in the other thread, or is it the ring-turned (aka corncob) one, or another one? Also curious about the shape of the front of the comb, whether it's the pre-war shape or post-war.

If you want to PM me the serial number for the '46 I may be able to tell you more about it -- what month it was built, if nothing else.

 

[Fishingted]

Are you able to post a photo of your '46? Just wondering if it has wrap-around checkering on the stock? What forearm does it have -- is it like CoalCrackerAL posted in the other thread, or is it the ring-turned (aka corncob) one, or another one? Also curious about the shape of the front of the comb, whether it's the pre-war shape or post-war.

If you want to PM me the serial number for the '46 I may be able to tell you more about it -- what month it was built, if nothing else.

I Have a lot of Issues trying to get pictures to download from my phone. I am going to take some with my camera and download them in my computer so I can post them. I appreciate your knowledge sharring about this gun.

 

[Fishingted]

Trying to post picture of the 1946 model

Are you able to post a photo of your '46? Just wondering if it has wrap-around checkering on the stock? What forearm does it have -- is it like CoalCrackerAL posted in the other thread, or is it the ring-turned (aka corncob) one, or another one? Also curious about the shape of the front of the comb, whether it's the pre-war shape or post-war.

If you want to PM me the serial number for the '46 I may be able to tell you more about it -- what month it was built, if nothing else.

I am trying to post pictures. Here are a few.

 

[I6turbo]

Trying to post picture of the 1946 model

I am trying to post pictures. Here are a few.

That is in fact the pre-war slide handle, very nice with the wrap-around hand checkering. I THINK it's the post-war stock profile, but can't tell for certain. With that slide handle (assuming that's the original), your gun was probably made in the early part of '46 production, completion dates that started in April. Would need the SN to know.

 

[Fishingted]

That is in fact the pre-war slide handle, very nice with the wrap-around hand checkering. I THINK it's the post-war stock profile, but can't tell for certain. With that slide handle (assuming that's the original), your gun was probably made in the early part of '46 production, completion dates that started in April. Would need the SN to know.

Thanks so much SN is 145304 odd thing too no Ithaca markings on Stock But Cap. If I were Guessing all parts of gun seem to be original. Just gave it a thourogh cleaning. Bore is in Great Shiny Shape too. Just a shame someone let the outer Metal get in the rough shape it is in. But I entend to shoot Hell out of it anyway. The gun functions perfectly.

 

[I6turbo]

Prior to sometime in 1940 the butt plate was non-branded. So, perhaps it has an earlier butt plate on it.

The SN indicates that yours is a '47 model.

I like a gun with some patina from use.

 

[Milkmaster]

 

[Milkmaster]

 

[Fishingted]

You are Right I must have looked at the other Chart Wrong. I was referring to the litlle cap on the end of the pistole grip it is just plain without any Ithaca markings. The Butt plate is marked Ithaca gun Co. Thanks Again for all Your Help in Indentafying my 37.

 

[I6turbo]

The grip cap should be plain on that vintage gun. They started the ITHACA cap about 20+ years later.

 

[Fishingted]

Prior to sometime in 1940 the butt plate was non-branded. So, perhaps it has an earlier butt plate on it.

The SN indicates that yours is a '47 model.

I like a gun with some patina from use.

Yea it is Cool owning a 74 year old gun thar Shoots as Good as a New one maybe even Better. It shucks shells like Butter.