Old 37 vs new 37

[Grayrock]

Does anybody know historical differences between old and new Ithaca Model 37's? I have heard that older ones did not have interchangeable barrels and new ones did. If that is true, what year and or serial number range were the NON interchangeable ones? Also, I heard that older 37's had the safety on the tang. When did they move it to the side of the trigger guard? Last question- on an older 37, what effect would a slight barrel bulge near the muzzle have? Would it be safe?

 

[Gordon]

855,000 down had individually fitted barrels. 855,000 up will interchange within guage.

 

[oletymer]

The bulge would be best anwered by a gunsmith.

 

[AJAX22]

If a barrel is bulged it should be cut back an inch or two behind the bulge by a competent gunsmith with a lathe.

don't play around with a damaged barrel.

 

[Sam]

I have handled some very old M37's. Never a tang safety.

Sam

 

[Black_Talon]

I heard that older 37's had the safety on the tang.

Nope, they've always had the safety behing the trigger guard. The original prototype from 1933 even had it there.

 

[Grayrock]

Gordon- when were those serial numbers (855000+) begun (just an approximate year). Also, where can I find that type of info on my own?

 

[Gordon]

Apparently 37 serialisation is a guarded secret. I think they 855000 is late 50's, but that is an educated guess.

 

[Grayrock]

So is that just one of those quirky pieces of information you know or do you have a source for your 855K figure? (I still know the serial number from my French Horn from high school, but have no idea WHY!! And high school for me was around the disco era!!

 

[Black_Talon]

when were those serial numbers (855000+) begun (just an approximate year).

1963.

And yes, that 855000+ is legit info.

Ithaca used to have the serial number ranges listed on their website, but that disappeared a year ago when they went tits-up. The new Ithaca hasn't posted it yet. AFAIK, the chart is only currently available in Walt Snyder's Featherlight book.

 

[Grayrock]

So does that mean that below 855000 that you can only replace the barrel via fitting by a gunsmith? And once fitted that it would only fit THAT gun and no others?

 

[Gordon]

Yup. But sometimes you get lucky and find an old one that fits, or needs a few swipes with a file.