Ithaca 37 1968 Vintage Riot or Trench?

[Warners]

I'd like to get some clarification about an Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight 12 gauge shotgun that I have. I looked up the serial number and it was made in 1968. It has a parkerized finish, and 20" barrel that's marked "cylinder". My understanding is that the 20" barreled guns are "Trench" guns, and the 18" barreled guns are "Riot" guns. Am I correct? What is the value of a weapon like this? (I don't have a photo with me here at work...but could post one later if desired). It's in nice condition - no major issues. It shoots fine, too!

Let me know and thanks,

Warner

 

[Fred Fuller]

Does it have "U. S." stamped into the right front of the rceiver?

Vietnam era Ithaca trench guns did have a 20" CYL bore barrel, but if it is a trench gun it will have three transverse grooves under the bottom of the barrel where the handguard/bayonet adapter attached. If it has the original stock, there will also be a sling swivel inletted into it. Serial number should be in the 989,000 range.

-- per Canfield...

lpl

 

[Warners]

Does it have "U. S." stamped into the right front of the rceiver?

Vietnam era Ithaca trench guns did have a 20" CYL bore barrel, but if it is a trench gun it will have three transverse grooves under the bottom of the barrel where the handguard/bayonet adapter attached. If it has the original stock, there will also be a sling swivel inletted into it. Serial number should be in the 989,000 range.

-- per Canfield...

lpl

I don't think it has those things, Lee......but I will check it out when I get home.....

Thanks,

Warner


PS - Assuming it doesn't have those things, what does that make it?

 

[reckless carolinian]

An Ithaca 37. Not 100%, but I believe gov't or police/riots were plain, not engraved with the game scene.

 

[Warners]

An Ithaca 37. Not 100%, but I believe gov't or police/riots were plain, not engraved with the game scene.

This one is definitely plain...no egravings or anything fancy. Parkerized finish.

Warner

 

[Fred Fuller]

There were a good many commercial riot guns made by Ithaca- some non-US marked 'commercial' trench guns too, though those usually have 7-digit serial numbers. There were 'S prefix' riot guns made for both the US military and the South Vietnamese during the war. There was even a tiny handful of 'S prefix' trench guns.

The listing below might be interesting to look at. I'd be careful of taking any proffered trench gun at face value these days without knowing for sure what you were looking at. Given the prices trench guns and any US marked shotgun might be offered at, there are fakes out there... at minimum, an investment in Bruce Canfield's collector guides to US military shotguns is in order. A lot of homework is too, IMHO.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=166210420

thaca 37 Trench gun,VERY RARE, slam fire, 1960 era trench gun,this model was manufactured for commerical sales, 12ga, 20" bbl, parkerized, bbl reads Ithaca 37 featherlight cylinder bore, there is an anvil w/ a P inside it on the bbl and the receiver, 2 3/4" chamber, 5 shot, factory heat shield with bayonet lug, front bead sight, walnut wood stock and forend, both in good shape no nicks, sling swivels attached, bore is clean, finish is in good shape there are some scuffs on receiver, takes a 1917 bayonet, not marked US, all original from factory like this, 95% overall, we don't know how many rounds went through it, serial #371120XXX, USED, no local pick up, no credit cards, we are a FFL
===============

lpl

 

[Al LaVodka]

Look like this'n?
3716_ _ _ _ _ . That'd be 1978.
Was $375 OTD I think and not mint but "I had to have it." Never saw a choke on barrel.

My idjut brother-in-law has one of those real Vietnam issue 37's from a few decades ago now -- shoulda insisted on buying it when I had a chance. Probably been stolen by now...

Al

 

[Warners]

There were a good many commercial riot guns made by Ithaca- some non-US marked 'commercial' trench guns too, though those usually have 7-digit serial numbers. There were 'S prefix' riot guns made for both the US military and the South Vietnamese during the war. There was even a tiny handful of 'S prefix' trench guns.

The listing below might be interesting to look at. I'd be careful of taking any proffered trench gun at face value these days without knowing for sure what you were looking at. Given the prices trench guns and any US marked shotgun might be offered at, there are fakes out there... at minimum, an investment in Bruce Canfield's collector guides to US military shotguns is in order. A lot of homework is too, IMHO.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=166210420

thaca 37 Trench gun,VERY RARE, slam fire, 1960 era trench gun,this model was manufactured for commerical sales, 12ga, 20" bbl, parkerized, bbl reads Ithaca 37 featherlight cylinder bore, there is an anvil w/ a P inside it on the bbl and the receiver, 2 3/4" chamber, 5 shot, factory heat shield with bayonet lug, front bead sight, walnut wood stock and forend, both in good shape no nicks, sling swivels attached, bore is clean, finish is in good shape there are some scuffs on receiver, takes a 1917 bayonet, not marked US, all original from factory like this, 95% overall, we don't know how many rounds went through it, serial #371120XXX, USED, no local pick up, no credit cards, we are a FFL
===============

lpl

Lee, I'm sure mine is not one of those. Here are some photos of it. Any information that you can provide about my gun would be greatly appreciated. You can see the markings on it, and the serial number.

Thanks in advance,

Warner


Here are the photos:

 

[Fred Fuller]

I'd say it was a straight commercial riot gun. The early to mid sixties saw a LOT of those get cranked out from a variety of manufacturers due to the growing war in SEAsia and the increasing social unrest in the US.

lpl

 

[Warners]

I'd say it was a straight commercial riot gun. The early to mid sixties saw a LOT of those get cranked out from a variety of manufacturers due to the growing war in SEAsia and the increasing social unrest in the US.

lpl

If I remember correctly....this came from an auction where there were several older police department weapons for sale. It may have been used by one of the local police forces.....

Thanks Lee,

Warner