An Ithaca is not a "shotty", it is one of the finest pump shotguns made!!
All steel, no stamped parts no alloy parts, and no plastic parts that will break
rendering the gun useless. Real walnut stocks,
All action parts are of machined steel making it one of the smoothest
operating guns made.
To top it off it is lighter than most other pump guns made.
You did very well in buying a Ithaca.
Duke you have one of the very scarce "Ultra's" very light and very fast handling.
I have the English stocked Ultra and it is a very nice gun!!!
TikkaShooter, If you were so inclined and wanted to use newer Ithaca barrels you could send your receiver back and they would machine the receiver to accept the newer style interchangeable barrels. Your old barrel would no longer fit and you would have to buy newer style barrel. (Think screw in chokes.) I don't remember what the cost was but it seemed reasonable for what was being done. I almost had that done and then came across a newer style Ithaca for a ridiculous low price and bought it. (fixed choke).