Question about muzzle attachement

[DLrocket89]

Hi everyone!

A few years back, I picked up a used Ithaca Model 37 from Gander Mountain for $120. It has a weird attachment on the end of the barrel and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what it is or what it does...


This is the "top" view:




"side" view with labels - Lyman, Cutts, and a couple patent numbers:




Bottom view:




Initially I thought it was a compensator or something, but the slots are straight up and down, not tilted backwards like I'd expect. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[John Peddie]

Quick glance, looks like a 1950's-1960's vintage Cutts Compensator.

Google that and you'll find lots of stuff.

Shotguns were normally sold with a fixed-choke barrel back in the day, not threaded to accept tubes as today.

So if you wanted to change chokes, you installed a Cutts as a "choke tube holder" and used the screw-in chokes to suit the purpose.

Some swore by them, others swore at them.

Changed the balance of the gun and made it muzzle heavy-sometimes a good thing, sometimes not.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

Gave the ability to change chokes & patterns on fixed choke barrels of the day.

The slots in the side was supposed to act as a muzzle break and reduce recoil.

People standing to the side of one on a trap range, or in a duck blind usually had a less then favorable opinion of them!! And a few choice words for the shooter.

rc

 

[DLrocket89]

Thanks for the replies. This all makes sense - I went rabbit hunting with family yesterday and shot about 20 times. Normally, I don't have any problem with my ears, typically shooting 20 gauge 3" magnums. This was 12 gauge, 2 3/4" low brass. My ears are STILL ringing 24 hours later.

BTW - I love the recoil and balance of the gun with it on. I don't know how well it reduces the recoil, I DO know that it's less than a 3" 20 gauge magnum.

In my family, when we rabbit hunt, we're the dogs - we don't have any trained. So, stomping through brush and whatnot, it's not always easy to get a good "proper" stock to shoulder purchase. Of the 5 I had legitimate shots at, I got 2 (which is better than my normal record of "a box of shells shot up and bunch of 4 letter words"). One I shot I had some time to line it up, but the other was a snap shot where I KNOW the stock was a good 3" off of my shoulder. No discomfort in hands/wrists/shoulders, which would not be true with my 20 gauge shooting 3" magnums.

Also, I had the distinct impression of flames going UP whenever I shot - impressive to see that against the snow in SE Wisconsin right now, in the daytime obviously.

I'll take it. And look into hearing protection.